IN GOD’S TIME
By: C. Mason Davis
A man was speaking to God, and he asked him, "God is it true that to you a thousand years is a minute?" "That's true," God replied. "And is it true that to you $1,000,000 is like a penny?" "That's true," God said. "Well, you see I'm a poor man and I was wondering if you could give me a penny," asked the man. "Sure," said God, "in a minute.”
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
2 Peter 3:8 says, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
In life we're always waiting for something such as waiting for a dream to come true, waiting to meet the right person, or waiting for an answer to a life’s issue. When it's not happening as fast as we would like we start to doubt God. But we must realize the moment you prayed to God He already knew what you’d ask for, as well as when He would answer your prayer. God knows the time you will meet the right person, when you’ll solve your life’s issue, when you’ll be healed, when you’ll get your promotion, and even when you’ll die. It may be tomorrow, or next week, or five years from now, but when you understand the time for anything and everything has already been set, it takes all the pressure off you. You’ll no longer need to live your life in worry, wondering when whatever is going to happen.
The first thing we need to understand about God’s timing is that it is perfect, just as all of God’s ways are perfect. God’s timing is never early, and it’s never been late. In fact, from before our birth until the moment we take our last earthly breath, our sovereign God is accomplishing His divine purposes. He is in complete control of everything and everyone. No event in history has put so much as a wrinkle in the timing of God’s eternal plan, which He designed before the foundation of the world. Our patience often reveals the degree of trust we have in God’s timing. Deuteronomy 7:9 says, “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations.”
The truth is that bad things happen to good people, but that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t exist. Bad things can happen to anyone, and they do. It’s a fact of life. It’s a way of life. How can anyone expect to go through life without stubbing their toe at least once. Sometimes bad things happen that we, ourselves, cause to happen. Other times bad people cause bad things to happen and no matter what we do, how we try to protect our lives, they’re still going to happen.
We learn early in life that we are all sinners, we all make mistakes, and that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, so we can come to heaven one day and live an eternal life with God. Romans 5:6 states, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Having free-will means that we aren’t going to be perfect. We’re each going to make good and bad decisions, perhaps do some bad things, but overall, if we repent and ask for forgiveness, we too, will be forgiven by Him. Trials and tribulations are a way of life, and they will weigh heavily on our hearts from time to time. We will go through situations that cast doubt upon our beliefs and might even have doubts about religion. When times become so dark in life, it’s easy to develop a completely negative personality that carries over into anything that you do. Just remember that if you start to feel this way that keeping a negative way about you will only allow you to eat, breath, and live in the negative. Negativity begats negativity; whereas positivity begats positivity. You are what you feel.
There are many reasons to believe and trust in God’s timing, such as:
• His word has never failed, and it never will.
• God has good intentions for you.
• He has proven himself trustworthy before.
• He is always on time.
• He doesn’t have deadlines.
• He is never impatient.
• God’s timing is honest.
• His judgement is never clouded.
• He only has you in mind.
• God’s timing has the proper perspective.
• Even His “bad timing” is perfect.
• There are never any strings attached.
And…no appointments are necessary.
Sometimes we’ll have what we believe to be a life-altering event happen to us. Something that will make us change in our life from guilt, from grief, from anger, or from sadness. We must understand that God hears all and knows all and has given us all the answers we need to overcome all of these reactions. His timing of these events won’t be to our liking or agreement, but they happen, nonetheless. Did God cause these events to happen, or did he just allow them to happen? God doesn’t create any of these circumstances, but the are the product of our choices, our wills, and our lives. He knows what will happen and when, as well as the outcome of what these events will do to us.
No matter when an event like losing a loved one happens, the timing will never be good to us. But we have to trust in God that He has a higher purpose for that loved one to perform, thus He called that one to Him for that higher purpose. Whether it be a child, a middle-aged sibling or parent, or an older friend who is loved like family, they will all be missed, but there is a lot of truth to the fact that they are now in a better place. For that person to be in a better place, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. We, as humans, are only human in our thinking and our feeling. We don’t understand God’s timing of things. For that person who is now with Jesus, the timing is right.
For all of us pet lovers, the timing of a pet’s life is never long enough. We wish and pray that they can live as long as we do, but that is not in God’s plan, nor in His timing. The reason for that is that animals live without sin. Some animals are pets to us humans, but we are sinners and not the pets. Pets are a creation from God as an example to us how to live without sin and how to love unconditionally. Pets don’t have to learn to live without sin, so they don’t have to be here with us as long. That is part of God’s plan for us, part of God’s timing, too.
This is when you've got to get a new perspective in life, on life. God has a time for everything. A time for you to get over your alcohol addiction. It's already in your future. Don't let the negative thoughts talk you out of it. There is a time for you to be completely well, and a time for God to turn your life around to the positive from the negative. It’s a life-changing attitude adjustment that is created on the basis of faith. Do you believe in God or not? Are you willing to follow His lead? Are you willing to accept that life’s answers will come in His time and not your own?
A surefire way to becoming more understanding about God’s timing is to stop worrying about everything. Quit living stressed out about everything. Give all the doubts and impatience a rest. It says in Hebrews 4:3, "For we which have believed enter into rest.” The way you know you're really believing is when you have inner peace, a rest of sorts. You know the answer is on the way. In Habakkuk 2:3 says, "The vision is for an appointed time. It may seem slow in coming but wait patiently, for it will surely come.” Notice not, "Maybe come.” Not, "I hope so.” No, God has already set the time. The appointed time has already been put on your calendar. Another translation says, "It won't be one second late.” Our God is not a random God. He is a precise God. He has lined up solutions for you down to the very second.
If you’ll ask for God to give you the grace to accept His timing, He will expect you, through faith, to not feel pressured or impatient, but instead, feel rest and at peace. Some of us can’t help but be controlling, but that doesn’t show faith. That doesn’t show trust. Remember that we should never stress over the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff. Being a true Christian and being true to God, you can’t have it both ways. Give your issues to God and trust him to handle them when and how the fixes are best for you. You have to put everything into God’s hands to handle them.
If God did everything, we ask on our timetable, it would limit us. Not because what we're asking for is too small, but because it may not be the right time. In Ecclesiastes 3:1 it says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Sometimes the person we think we can't live without, God knows now that in ten years a person is not going to be good for you, so he would close that door right now. You may think you’re ready for a certain promotion right now, but God would know if you’re ready for it or not and that getting this promotion now would would keep you from a much bigger promotion that he is preparing you for three years from now. In a case such as this, He would bring the right promotion to you at the right time. God has the advantage in these issues. God has the advantage of seeing it all.
If there is a right time, that also means there is a wrong time. Today, we’re living in a society that wants and demands everything right now. We’re living in the time of instant gratification. We're being programmed for immediacy. In today’s world, we don’t like to wait for anything, or anyone. Hebrews 6:12 says, "It's through faith and patience that we inherit the promises.” It’s easy to have faith. Tell yourself and God that "God, I believe I'm going to accomplish my dreams. If you’ve got the faith part down, make sure that you get the patience part down, as well. Sometimes we pray, "God, give me this promise right now.” What we can't see is that something, or someone is not ready. Maybe it's another person that's going to be involved. God is still working on them. Maybe it's another situation that's going to be a part of your destiny. It's not in place yet. Or maybe God is doing work in you, developing your character, growing you stronger in that process, for that right time.
So often we think we have to do it only in our own strength. This is when many people make quick decisions that end up only making matters worse. Psalms 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God.” Prove to God that you trust Him, by allowing yourself to stay patient, worry and stress free, and to know that at the right times everything will come to pass. Sometimes when we get in a hurry, we make the mistake of taking matters into our own hands and we try to force things to happen, all in God’s time. Many times, and because of this, we miss God's best. Timing is everything. Yes, you may have to knock. You'll have to put forth the effort. I'm a believer in being aggressive and pursuing dreams but you don't have to force doors to open. You don't have to try to make people to like you. You don't have to talk yourself into it. If you'll be patient and wait for God's timing, he will give you the desires of your heart. Understand, what God orders, God will provide. What God gives birth to; God will always give you the grace to see it through. But when we birth things in our own strength out of God's timing then God is not obligated. There will be times in life where it's not happening as fast as you would like. You'll be tempted to try to force things to happen. Maybe in a relationship, the person you're thinking about dating isn’t good for you and down deep you know they're not good for you. They don't treat you with respect. But you're afraid that you might not meet anyone else. The one God promised you is in your future. Trust in Him! Have trust in your faith! The timing has already been determined. Now be patient and trust God to do it his way.
That's what it says in Psalms: 37:4 "When you delight yourself in the Lord, God will give you the desires of your heart.” There's a big difference between God giving you something and you having to work to make it happen.
I’ve learned a lot about the importance of trusting God’s timing in seasons of waiting. I also know that this is easier said than done. Sometimes it’s hard to see the reason for waiting. Personally, there are many things I’m still waiting on. And I really wish they would work out like yesterday. But I’m still waiting. If you’re in the same circumstance, I hope that this message will encourage you in waiting and help you to see that you can trust God in your waiting for God’s timing.
The Bible says that a day in God’s eyes is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. So, when you’ve been waiting for two years and it feels like forever, remember that two years is like seconds to God. He sees a much bigger picture than we see. Listen and you will hear God telling you that, “My child, you are worrying too much. Remember who I am. There is nothing too hard for me.
It is my prayer for you that you’ll trust that what is meant to happen will happen in the right time. I also pray that you are patient for that time, as well. Amen!
