Waiting on God's Timing
We're in a hurry, but God isn't rushed. Learning to wait on His timing is one of the hardest—and most fruitful—lessons.
I've noticed a pattern in my life: when I rush ahead of God's timing, I create problems. When I wait for His timing, things unfold with a grace I could never manufacture.
But waiting is hard. Especially in a culture that celebrates speed.
Why We Rush
We rush for several reasons:
We're afraid the opportunity will pass: If we don't act now, we might miss out.
We're uncomfortable with uncertainty: Waiting means not knowing, and we want to know.
We trust our timing more than God's: Deep down, we think we know when things should happen.
Everyone else seems to be moving fast: We don't want to be left behind.
But Scripture shows a different pattern. God is rarely in a hurry. He works according to His perfect timing, not our impatient schedules.
Examples of Waiting
Abraham waited 25 years for the promised son. When he tried to rush God's timing with Hagar, he created problems that lasted generations.
Joseph spent 13 years between his dreams and their fulfillment—years in slavery and prison, waiting on God.
David was anointed king but waited years before actually taking the throne, even when he had chances to seize it by force.
Jesus waited 30 years before beginning His public ministry. Thirty years of ordinary life preparing for three years of extraordinary ministry.
The pattern is clear: God's timing rarely matches our expectations. But His timing is always perfect.
The Temptation to Force It
When we're waiting, there's a strong temptation to make things happen ourselves.
You're waiting for God to open a door? Why not force it open yourself?
You're waiting for clarity on a decision? Why not just choose and move forward?
You're waiting for a breakthrough? Why not manipulate circumstances to create one?
But when we force God's timing:
We often create messes we then have to clean up.
We miss what God was actually preparing during the waiting.
We rely on our own strength instead of depending on Him.
We get our way, but miss His best.
What Waiting Produces
Waiting on God's timing isn't passive. It's active trust. And it produces things rushing never could:
Character development: Waiting teaches patience, trust, and dependence on God. These can't be learned any other way.
Clearer direction: In the waiting, God often clarifies what He's calling you to. The picture becomes clearer.
Better preparation: God uses waiting to prepare you for what's coming. You're not ready yet—the waiting is making you ready.
Deeper trust: Each season of waiting and seeing God's faithfulness builds your trust for the next season.
His perfect timing: When God's timing finally arrives, things unfold with a grace and fruitfulness that proves it was worth the wait.
How to Wait Well
Stay close to Him: Waiting is easier when you're walking with God daily. The relationship makes the waiting bearable.
Keep doing the last thing He told you: While you wait for what's next, faithfully do what you know to do now.
Don't grow passive: Waiting doesn't mean doing nothing. It means not rushing ahead while staying actively obedient in the present.
Watch for His movement: Be attentive. When God's timing comes, you want to recognize it and move with Him.
Trust His goodness: Waiting is hard. But God is good. He hasn't forgotten you. His timing will prove perfect.
Today
What are you waiting for? What door hasn't opened? What clarity hasn't come?
The temptation is to force it, to make something happen. But what if God's timing isn't yet?
Wait on Him. Not passively, but trustingly. Keep walking with Him, stay faithful in what He has given you to do now, and watch for His perfect timing.
His timing is worth waiting for. Always.