The last thing we think about when we are in tough times is waiting. Our natural tendencies are to rebel against waiting and find other ways to get what we want.
There is something about the waiting process that stops us and keeps us from moving forward and waiting for God’s timing.
In times of waiting, we get to see what God sees. It gives us time to examine our hearts.
Do you ever find yourself in situations where you feel like you are in a hurry, and you get the definite idea that God is not in a hurry?
It happens all the time. Why? Because God is more interested in growing our faith than anything else.
With everything we have come through, we can always trust God to see us through it. God has perfect timing, and when we invite Him into every area of our lives for direction that is where and when we see his timing made fully intentional.
As women, we tend to act hastily without thinking when it comes to waiting on God’s timing. We want it now!
We also do not often do this quietly either. When we put our trust in the Lord, we find that we can stand quietly and still, giving it over to God.
In other words, “Let Go and Let God?” Giving it to God and trusting in Him will see you through, since He is in control in the first place.
God has created a plan for each one of us but the way we go about trusting His plan can dictate our overall happiness.
The plans He has for us always exceeds our wildest expectations because it aligns with what we are meant to be doing, not what we expect we should be doing. God has a plan and a future for your life.
For I know the plans and thoughts that I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for peace and well-being and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (Amplified Bible)
How to Know God’s Timing?
Have you ever felt impatient with God’s timing? Felt like He is taking too long to answer your prayers? If so, you are not alone!
God’s timing is always perfect. Even his ways are perfect. (Psalm 18:30; Galatians 4:4). God is always on time; he is never late. Even when we pray, our human nature wants the answer right now, not with God.
In fact, in the hurriedness of our frenzied lives, we often find it difficult to wait for anything or anyone. Especially waiting on God’s timing. We want what we want now.
As a result, we are not only losing our patience, but also finding it increasingly difficult to discern God’s timing, and with that, it makes it hard to hear God. We find our ability to wait on the Lord is related to how much we trust Him.
When we pray, instead of letting go and let God, we allow worrying about things, rather than putting all our concerns in God’s hand and wait on Him.
Walking in God’s timing is so important. We must not jump ahead of God; neither should we lag behind in disobedience. Joy in serving God comes as we find ourselves in the right place at the right time!
3 Ways God’s Timing Is Always Perfect
You do not have to struggle with how to be patient when God makes you wait, just remember how patient He is with YOU. No matter how we drag our feet, make mistakes, slow around, it is quite marvelous that God has not given up on you.
2 Peter 3:8-9 says “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2) God Has a Perfect Plan for your Life!
God has perfectly planned your life. Everything about you has been planned by God. Your days, months, and years have already been ordained by God.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
3) What Concerns you, Concerns God!
All your desires, thoughts, and dreams that concerns you, concerns God. What you think about, concerns him? What you dream about, concerns him? That deep down desire, concerns him. Trust the Lord and his promises to make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Related: 7 Truths About Trusting God’s Timing
Trusting God’s Timing in Your Life
Have you ever heard the saying, “God’s never early, never late, but always on time? Our timing is not God’s timing. For us, God’s timing often feels like a long, desperate delay.
God’s timing grows us up and strengthen our faith as we are forced to wait and trust in God and it makes certain that He, and He alone, gets the glory and praise for pulling us through. “My times are in Your hands …” Psalm 31:15.
The only way we can trust in God’s timing is through spending more time with Him. As with our relationship with Him, we must hold firm to the truth that God is still on the throne, and when we trust Him with our lives and follow His way, we will arrive precisely where we ought to be at exactly the right timing.
Everything is in God’s timing. At the right time, God will provide your need. At the right time, God will deliver you. At the right time, God will rescue you.
At the RIGHT time. His time!
How Do You Trust God’s Timing?
God’s timing is always perfect. Waiting is hard at any cost when you are trusting God’s timing. Learning to wait on God for the answers means patiently looking for what we need. God’s timing is the opportune time. Choose to trust God’s timing as you remain faithful where you are.
God has a plan for your life. That plan is fantastic; it is perfect, and it is perfectly suited just for you, wherever you are and what is going on in your life. To reject that plan is to reject the best in your life.
You reject His plan; you will never enjoy life as He intended it. You will never have what God intended you to have. You will never quite know where you are in life if you reject His plan and His timing.
And His timing and His plan go together because His plan is clear, and He reveals it to you one step at a time. Just remember, God will answer you In His perfect timing.
David understood why he had to wait on the Lord. First, his salvation came from Him (Psalm 62:1). He learned that no one else could deliver him. His only hope was in God (62:5), for God alone heard his prayers (62:8). Sometimes God calls on us when it is not a good time for us, but we need to trust in him.
Now what do you mean by waiting on the Lord? Does that mean that you are to wait for every single decision and make some request that He give you direction?
Or is there something easier about it than that? Waiting on the Lord is a vital principle to every single believer. We all have decisions to make. We all have opportunities that we face.
We all face challenges in life. If you live your life by simply moving on, taking advantage of the opportunity, as you would think, and never even considering the fact that God has a will and a perfect plan.
And that also He not only has a plan, but He has timing in that plan. There are some things He is provided for you that are not available to you yet, but it is in His plan.
There are some things that He has that is available now. And there are some issues in life from which you and I have to back off and say, okay, God, give me direction; give me wisdom. How do I respond to this? God’s timing is basic and essential.
Trusting in God means that we are willing to follow His will for our lives and therefore have total faith that He will do what’s best for us, even if we do not like it.
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
If we have faith that God’s plan and purpose for our lives are perfect, then when we find ourselves in seasons of waiting, we can still have confidence that God IS going to come through for us, according to His will.
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19
Even when it looks like it is going to take forever, there is a reason for the wait. God is making everything perfect in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
Slowly but surely God is molding your character, so when the time comes, you will be strong enough to face the challenges of the road ahead.
Trust in His timing and ask Him for the peace of mind to be patient. He is working in your life and all His promises WILL be fulfilled at the right timing.
“But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Related: How to Trust God’s Timing
The Importance of Waiting on God’s Timing
There is so many things in our lives we do not understand. God knows all things. He knows everything there is about us. It is so important for us to always wait on the Lord and be control by the Holy Spirit. That why it is important to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
The Bible says, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)
The Holy Spirit will teach you everything you need to know in life and bring to your remembrance whatever He hears from the Father.
Throughout the Bible, you can see countless examples of God’s faithfulness and love displayed for those who believe in Him. Rather than taking matters into our hands, and doing things our way, we should wait patiently for God timing.
Wait Patiently on God’s Timing
When our faith is being tested, God builds our faith by putting it to the test, by trying it. Faith is like a muscle. When it is stretched and pulled it develops. Our faith develops as it is tested.
James 1:3 says this, “The testing of your faith develops perseverance so that you may be mature and complete.”
The purpose of tests is that our faith, our perseverance, will grow and will become ever more mature, complete and like Christ.
Timing is Everything with God. Waiting is used to test our faith. Waiting can bring out our impatience, worry, discouragement, and lack of trust in God.
God uses times of waiting to allow us to demonstrate our obedience and faith. He calls us to wait patiently on Him while He prepares us for the next step. Your victory is during the waiting process.
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4.
He says when you have a problem relax. In fact, he says, rejoice. Take it easy. Thank God. Praise God. Why? Because you know that God is with you.
God has a plan for you. He has a purpose for your life. He is going to help you through it. God’s purpose is greater than the pain, the problem, or the difficulty you are going through right now.
If we want to learn to live by faith we must learn to always rejoice and in all things. James says, “Consider it all joy when you go through problems.”
The joy in which we endure trial is a sign of our hope in God. With endurance, we see that this is not a time that we can just sit around and wait for an answer.
The purpose is to make a believer mature and complete, meaning God wants us to be actively participating in the work He has for us.
That is how we grow in faith. Through all the tears, the challenging times, and sorrows, we endure, this is where your faith is strengthened.
But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 (KJV)
When you wait on the Lord, He will strengthen you through any situation you are going through. No matter what you do, or where you are, wait on the Lord’s timing.
Meditate
Meditating is one of the best things anyone could do to calm a troubled mind.
Keep on Praying
When you want to give up, Jesus tells us: Do not stop. Do not quiet. Be persistent. Be consistent. It is necessary for us to do this.
Before they call, I will answer; while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Is. 65:24)
“Pray without ceasing…” (1 Thess. 5:17)
“…pray one for another, that ye may be healed….” (Ja. 5:16)
Prayer is a great way to solidify your relationship with God. Sometimes, it is not about planning what you want to say, but instead it is about telling God what is on your mind.
Whether times are good or not, God is always ready to listen to what we have to say. Prayer also helps you to realize that God is in control.
As you wait, do not forget to remind yourself of God’s promises and reflect on the times when your prayers have been answered. If he has done it before, He can do it again
Related: Trusting God’s Timing: Standing in Faith While You Wait
Trusting God’s Timing
Sometimes the perfect timing means telling only the Lord. The women I most admire in the Bible are women with restraint; they thought before they spoke.
For example, Luke 2:19. After the birth of Jesus, and all the marvelous events that took place surrounding His birth, the Bible says that His mother, Mary, kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
It is so refreshing to be around a lady who does not tell every little detail of her life as soon as it happens, to anybody willing to listen. There is a wonderful mystique about a woman who can hold her tongue.
Does everybody in your world need to know all about your life? Becareful. Everyone you talk to does not need every small detail about your family history.
Trust the Lord’s timing and do not get ahead of His perfect plan for your life. He knows how many hairs are on your head. It says in scripture He planned the days of your life my friend, so why are you anxious? (I cannot answer that one because I find myself being a bit anxious at times too.
Do we ever stop? My advice for today? Rest in His perfect plan. Pray and surrender your plans to the one who knows what you need each step of the way and do not get distracted by what you see or hear.
Do not get anxious in the process or lean on your own understanding. Trust in Him and He will supply for your every need as you go.
God’s Timing Quotes
- “God’s will may not be the perfection of the true believer’s life, but it is the direction of it.” – John F. MacArthur
- “You may not understand God’s timing about something, but you have to trust that His timing is perfect. Trust Him and find rest.” – Victoria Osteen
- “Stress makes you believe that everything has to happen right now. Faith reassures you that everything will happen in God’s timing.” – Marcus Lamb
- “The timing of God often defies your thinking. It contradicts logic. You may have troubles, battles, or trials but they do not negate God’s love for you. There is a purpose behind your pain. Jesus said Lazarus’ sickness was part of a KINGDOM AGENDA!” – Comfort Ocran
- “I question and soul-search constantly into myself to be as certain as I can that I am fulfilling the true meaning of my work, that I am maintaining my sense of purpose, that I am holding fast to my ideals, that I am guiding my people in the right direction.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
What Does the Bible Tell us About God’s Timing?
The following 7 Bible verses are just a few words from God that reassure us that God’s timing is always perfect, even when we cannot see it!
- “God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.”- 1 John 3:20.
- “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” – Proverbs 27:1
- “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” Ecclesiastes 3:1
- Jeremiah 29:11-12“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.” – Lamentations 3: 25-26
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
- “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” – Peter 3:8-9
- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” – Jeremiah 29:11-12
Prayer To Wait on God’s Timing
Lord, I thank You that You will answer my prayers in Your perfect timing. Reveal what is in my heart and make me ready to handle the answer in the right way when it comes. Help me to pray by faith consistently and long-term, to believe, wait, and then move forward in Your timing.
Give me the patience to wait on God’s timing. Lord, it may not always be the way I want or expect. But you always work it out for my benefit. Your timing is perfect, and I trust in You!
Help me to be patient in prayer, not give up, and trust You even during moments when I feel negative emotions. I do not want to live by feelings but by faith. Help me not to take matters in my own hands. I choose to trust you, and I refuse to believe the lies of the enemy. I choose to be faithful in prayer (Colossians 4:2). Deepen my understanding and give me a greater knowledge of what You are doing in my life. I choose to hold unswervingly to the hope that I profess (Hebrews 10:23). Stretch my faith in the midst of the wait, just as You did with Your disciples when encountering a storm at sea (Matthew 8:23-27). I thank You that You have all wisdom and will answer my prayers in the perfect way. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Free Printable Bible Reading Plan
Are you ready to dive into scripture and are serious about spending more time reading the Bible but not sure how to get started? Printable Bible Reading Plan are a great way to dive into Scripture in a more intentional way so you can get the most out of the time you spend reading the verses.
I pray that this is a place where you can gain encouragement in your prayer life and in your relationship with God! Here you will find a free printable, “Trusting in God’s Timing” that you can download by clicking on the highlighted links.
You are welcome to use this printable for personal use or in small group Bible studies.
Have a wonderful day! Enjoy!
