Recently, the Lord has blessed me with an absolutely amazing wife. As many of my friends and family (and Pastor Gary!) have joked that it’s about time I got married, I can’t help but be thankful that it happened when it did because it was all in God’s perfect timing. All those years of emotional highs and lows, all those years of dates and relationships that didn’t quite work out, all of those years wondering if it was ever actually going to happen, completely dissipated the moment I saw my beautiful bride walking down that aisle toward me. I honestly couldn’t have scripted it any better!
This reminds me of an important lesson that we must learn as believers in Christ: timing. So often in our walk with Christ, we have a tendency to want things to happen or prayers answered in our own timing. Sometimes, because of the fast paced, short attention span society we now live in, we have grown to expect things instantaneously. Fast moving traffic, fast internet, fast food, fast everything! Our schedules fill up quickly throughout the week and everything just needs to happen fast, fast, fast! Sometimes we may find ourselves in difficult situations and want deliverance as soon as possible. Sometimes we or somebody we may know may need an answer to prayer and we pray that it comes quickly. There’s nothing wrong with hoping for a quick deliverance from God, but we must learn that everything happens in His timing. We may not understand that timing, but our faith in Him reminds us that He truly knows best.
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT)
(8)”My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. (9) For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
Now there are countless examples to use from the Bible to illustrate this point, but one of the most prominent ones that comes to mind is of Abraham and Sarah. You know the story in Genesis 17, God promised Abraham that he would become the father of many. At the time, Abraham was 99 years old and his wife Sarah was 90! Now that may seem really old to have children because it is! Even they laughed at that. They did wait for a little while, but because of their age and Sarah’s fear that this may never happen, she tells Abraham to sleep with her maidservant, Hagar. He does and Ishmael was born. This, however, was not God’s plan. A year later, Abraham and Sarah had Isaac like God had promised. Tension eventually rose within the family and Hagar and Ishmael were sent away. God would establish His everlasting covenant through Isaac.
For Sarah, waiting on God’s timing came with a fear that time was getting away from her and her ability to play a role in giving Abraham these descendants God spoke of was fading. She put God in a box of her own design. Ever been there? We can have a mental picture of how we think God should work and when that doesn’t happen, we tend to jump in rather than waiting on God’s timing. How has that worked out for you? Probably not what you expected! Now think about all those times you did put your faith and trust in God and waited for Him. I bet things turned out better than expected!
Psalm 27:14 (ESV)
“Wait for the LORD. Be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!”
As we continue our journey through this life, let us walk in faith and peace knowing that God is in complete control of everything in our lives and all around us. Whether it’s relationships, health, a job, or any other life decision, give it to Him and trust in His timing. I know that this is easier said than done, but His timing will always be the best. It’s perfect!
Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Wayne Errig