Trusting God’s Timing

By Charles Mallory

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

No matter our situation, no matter what emotions are tied to that moment, God is moving. He is working, networking and bringing all things together, now and tomorrow, next week, next year and even into the next generation, to the end of time and into eternity.

Our situations involve us, but they are never totally about us. Although it appears to be “our situation,” we are actually just one piece of a much bigger plan. God is working. I think we would be blown away if we actually knew just how many people God is rounding up to network and connect into our particular situation.

God’s work seems to be rotational or “360 degrees.” Like an IMAX theater, God is moving all around you. He is bringing people into your life to bless you while bringing you into their situation to bless them. There are opportunities to serve while you are being served, to help while being helped, to comfort when you need comfort, to encourage even when you need encouragement.

The ways of God are far beyond our reasoning skills and even the time period of our existence. Isaiah 55:8–9 tells 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.’”

Perfect Timing

The timing of God is always perfect. He is never late to hurt us. He is never early to spoil us. He will always be right on time to bless us and show us that He is Yahweh. He is God.

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 “The ways of God are far beyond our reasoning skills and even the time period of our existence.”

The Bible speaks of this when Jesus, the Son, appeared in God’s plan to redeem us. According to Galatians 4:4, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son” (NLT).

Everything God has done, everything He is doing, and everything He will accomplish is perfect. It’s also intentional, sovereign, and glorifying to Him.

Nothing catches Him off guard. He is never surprised. He is never asleep at the wheel. He is trustworthy. He is good. He is in control and in authority over all.

There isn’t anything that can thwart His plans or sideline His will. Ephesians 4:6 tells us there is “one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all” (NLT).

God perfectly orchestrates all things together in harmony with order, structure, content, and even lessons for us to learn. There are blessings to receive and an assurance to give us hope. There are times when we need correction, guidance and direction. Each of these times will have a purpose with nothing in vain, wasted, missed or messed up. Even when the things we do appear to mess it up, God has got it, and He is in control.

He is as just as He is fair. A situation doesn’t have to make sense or have any reasonable explanation. We are not called to figure it out. We are called to, by faith, trust Him!

If I am called to wait, then I do what waiters do: serve! If doors have closed, then I stand there in the hallway and praise Him. We “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) with faith in the absence of results and trust in the silence of not hearing answers.

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 “God perfectly orchestrates all things together in harmony with order, structure, content, and even lessons for us to learn.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (NLT).

Understanding God’s plans and how He works in His perfect timing can help us make a little more sense of Hebrews 11:13, “All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it” (NLT).

Seasons and Surrender

Ecclesiastes refers to seasons. Our dependence upon God is day by day, moment by moment, heartbeat by heartbeat, breath by breath, second by second. God has a fitting time for each thing to be done according to His will.

Times and seasons are all ordained by God who is sovereign over history and human affairs. We must order our expectations willfully and accordingly. That includes our hopes, dreams, education, children, grandchildren, achievements, recognition and legacy. These earthly pursuits are good. They give God glory and help advance the kingdom in unique ways, but in their proper place and timing according to God’s plans and purposes.

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 “God has a fitting time for each thing to be done according to His will.”

I’ve had to learn the hard way to stop trying to take control. I want to hurry up and get there, and I forget to enjoy the journey of getting there.

Instead of taking control, we should surrender it all to Jesus. Otherwise, we allow things to become idols through headstrong, personal pursuits. We interject ourselves and try to force God’s hand to move, and it never ends well. It’s always unprofitable, Solomon concluded when he tried to do everything, it was meaningless. He repeatedly compared it to trying to chase and catch the wind (Ecclesiastes 1:14–17; 2:11–26; 4:4–16, 6:9).

Colossians 3:1-4 tells us, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory” (NLT).

God’s timing is not only perfect but beautiful. It is holy. It is sovereign.

Do you remember Carrie Underwood’s song, “Jesus, Take the Wheel”? When we surrender and let Jesus drive, it is glorifying to the Father.

As the writer of Hebrews said, “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (11:1 NLT).

Trust God’s timetable, schedule, plans, promises and prophecies. He is good, and He will be faithful.
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