In His Perfect Time: Trusting in the Unfailing Timeliness of God
“For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.” Ecclesiastes 8:6 (ESV)
Patience.
Would you say you’re a patient person? Sometimes, I’m not so sure about me. In a world that seems to continually race against time, one of the certainties of life is that we often find ourselves caught up in a whirlwind of impatience and uncertainty.
In our journey through life, amidst trials and waiting, we often grapple with the concept of time. Our human impatience seeks immediate answers, sometimes instant gratification.
Do any of these questions feel familiar to you or someone you know?
Why am I still single?
Why does life always seem like such a struggle?
When is God going to help me?
Even Believers may occasionally be struck by doubt and worry over God’s answer to our prayers.
Yet the Scriptures, both in the Old and New Testaments, reveal a fundamental truth: God’s timing is perfect. Regardless of our circumstances, God’s unwavering faithfulness is timeless, and His timing is always on time.
Understanding God’s Timing: A Foundation in Faith
Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” God’s timing may not always align with our expectations, but it is always superior to our own.
This is particularly true in relationships. A young woman recently has shared with us her insecurities that she is a certain age but has not “found” the right man to fall in love with and marry, even as her friends regularly share their announcements of engagements and weddings.
Sometimes, God uses delays not as punishment for our actions, but to teach us to trust Him and His timing more fully. When the apostle Paul described his agenda in Romans 15:25-29 to head to Rome and preach before heading to Spain, he was certainly on a godly mission, but it was not God’s mission as God had intended.
There is nothing wrong with godly desires and hopes for the future. We all should dream about what God may do through us in the future. We should plan, as much as we’re able, by setting godly spiritual goals for our lives. But after all the planning and goal-setting are done, we have to bow and say, “Lord, not my will, but Your will be done with my life. I trust in Your agenda for me.”
Waiting With Purpose
Waiting is a common theme in the Bible, and through it, we learn the value of trusting in God’s timing. Consider Hannah, who yearned for a child. In her deep anguish, she continued to pray and trust in the Lord (1 Samuel 1:10-11). In God’s perfect time, her prayer was answered, and she bore Samuel, a great prophet. Hannah’s story teaches us that God’s timing often includes a period of waiting, designed to deepen our faith and reliance on Him.
David, too, waited years to become the king of Israel after being anointed by Samuel. During this time, David faced trials and adversities, yet he remained faithful to God. His psalms often reflect a deep trust in God’s timing, as seen in Psalm 27:14, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
Waiting With Patience
Consider the story of Joseph, detailed in Genesis. Joseph’s life was a model of patience, while being sold into slavery by his brothers to unjust imprisonment. Yet, in Genesis 50:20, Joseph acknowledges, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” God’s timing in elevating Joseph to a position of power in Egypt was impeccable, ensuring not just his family’s survival during famine but also laying a foundation for the Israelites’ future.
Another powerful example is found in the book of Esther. Esther, an ordinary Jewish girl, becomes queen and finds herself in a position to save her people from annihilation after years of patience. Esther 4:14 echoes the divine orchestration, “And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” The timing of Esther’s ascension to queenship was not a coincidence; it was God’s perfect plan to save His people.
God’s Timing in Our Lives
Understanding and accepting God’s perfect timing in our lives is a journey of faith. It requires us to trust in His plan, even when it is not clear to us. Like the biblical figures, we are called to wait patiently, pray persistently, and trust wholeheartedly.
Embracing the perfection of God’s timing means trusting in His plan, even when it seems counterintuitive or challenging. It requires patience, faith, and surrender to a timeline that is not our own but is crafted by the Creator of time itself.
Whether we are waiting for answers to prayers, guidance in decisions, or the fulfillment of promises, we can find comfort in knowing that God’s timing is always perfect, designed for our good and His glory.
As Believers, let us find comfort in this truth, surrendering our timelines to the One who holds time in His hands.