God's Timing is Always Best

Chuckle: A man and wife rushed into the dentist’s office, and the wife said “I want a tooth pulled quickly with no numbing agent because I’m in a terrible hurry.” “You certainly are a brave woman,” said the dentist. “Show me which tooth it is.” The wife turned to her husband, “Open wide, dear, and show the dentist which tooth it is.”

Quote: "Are we detached enough from our own spiritual hysterics to wait on God? To wait is not to sit with folded hands, but to learn to do what we are told." --Oswald Chambers

"These things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place" (Habakkuk 2:3 NLT).

We are an impatient people. We live in the day of instant gratification. People want everything immediately, if not sooner. We Christians are as vulnerable as anyone to this line of thinking. We sometimes think that if God doesn't answer our prayers immediately, he isn't going to answer -- or maybe he didn't hear us. But God answers prayers in three ways: "Yes," "No," and "Wait." How shameful it is that "wait" is not more prevalent in our functional vocabulary. Sometimes I think we are so impatient that when we ask God to give us patience, we want him to do it right now!!!

God's timing does not correspond with ours. The Bible says one day is as a thousand years to God, and, according to his Word, waiting patiently for God's timing in everything pleases him and it also removes great stress from our lives. Once we learn patience (a fruit of the Spirit - Galatians 5:22) with God and other people, we are letting the Holy Spirit do his work through us.

"I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing" (Psalm 40:1-3 NLT).

Waiting for God to help us is not always easy, but we can see in this psalm how David received four benefits from waiting. God (1) lifted him up out of despair, (2) set his feet on solid ground, (3) steadied him as he walked, and (4) put a new song of praise in his heart. Many times blessings cannot be received and appreciated unless we go through the trial of waiting and trusting God's timing.

"Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and always be prayerful" (Romans 12:12 NLT). Remind yourself continually of God's faithfulness. He is actively working in your life to help you become all he intended you to be when he created you. As we wait, we should continue to be steadfast in our prayers and service. “God gives when he will, as he will and to whom he will.” --St Teresa of Avila

Love, Jerry & Dotse