God's Timing

Micah 7:7 NIV But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

We live in a world driven by schedules and deadlines, where everything seems to be fast, and waiting on God’s timing is a lost art. You may have heard it said, “We live in a microwave world but serve a crockpot God.” We want answers, solutions, and outcomes on our terms and quickly. But God’s timing transcends our finite understanding and is always focused on His covenant promises.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds us: “He has made everything beautiful in its time,” meaning that when we trust in God’s timing, we embrace the truth that He knows the best moment for every aspect of our lives. His timing is never late, nor is it early—in fact, He is always perfectly on time. Waiting on God’s timing means believing He is orchestrating every detail for our good and His glory. Believing the promise of Romans 8:28, “all things work together for our good,” includes the ways and timing of God.

But it can be frustrating when you’re in a hurry and God isn’t.  We spend a lot of energy and prayer trying to move God to our timetable and our priorities. God never panics, God never reacts, and God is never in a hurry. When we don’t see the immediate results we desire, we try to unsuccessfully take matters into our own hands and help God out. There is no greater example than God’s promise to Abram that he would have a son (Genesis 15:4). But his wife Sarai was long past the age of having children and took matters into her own hands, instructing Hagar, her Egyptian maid, to sleep with Abram. The result was Ishmael, and even today we see the fulfillment of the angel’s words, “He will live in hostility toward all of his brothers.”

What we see as God’s delays are not without purpose. It is only through understanding His character that we can truly rest when things are not going as we planned. God is love, and everything He allows in your life—including delays—is in line with His love for you. There is always a greater purpose in our circumstances than meets the eye. God is working. He is preparing something greater. He is molding us, shaping our character, teaching us to trust who He is, to lean on Him and Him alone, and to wait for his perfect work at the perfect time.

This waiting isn’t passive; it’s a posture of trust, a pause with great expectations and anticipation, waiting with great care, attention, and effort. Waiting on God’s timing challenges our desire for control and immediacy. It is an act of surrender and we are able to wait successfully when we stay near to the one who will fulfill the promise. God never wastes an opportunity to show his goodness and faithfulness, fulfilling His promises and blessings for those who wait.

When Jesus heard that Lazarus was sick, John 11:6 tells us, “He stayed where he was two more days.” Jesus knew the result and even told his disciples, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” Through his delay, Jesus revealed to the world, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live” (John 11:25).

Father, teach us to surrender our perceived deadlines and yield to your perfect time and schedule. “My life, my every moment, my destiny—it’s all in your hands.” Psalms 31:15 TPT

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Gary and Sandy Anthony

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV 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.

Proverbs 27:1 NIV Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

Lamentations 3:22-24 GNT The Lord 's unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in him I put my hope.

Isaiah 30:18 NIV Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

2 Peter 3:8-9 NLT But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake.

Psalm 27:13-14 NLT Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

Malachi 1:11 NLT For from the rising of the sun, even to its setting, My name shall be great among the nations.

Isaiah 40:31 NIV Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Psalms 130:5 NIV I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.

Habakkuk 2:3 GNT Put it in writing, because it is not yet time for it to come true. But the time is coming quickly, and what I show you will come true. It may seem slow in coming, but wait for it; it will certainly take place, and it will not be delayed.

Psalm27:13-14 NIV I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord ; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.

Galatians 6:9 NIV Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Psalms 37:7 NIV Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

Galatians 4:4-5 TPT But when the right time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. Yet all of this was so that he would redeem and set free those held hostage to the law so that we would receive our freedom and a full legal adoption as his children.

Proverbs 16:9 NIV In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.

Ephesians 1:9-10 NLT And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ—which is to fulfill his own good plan.