Topic: Trust God’s Perfect Timing [Joyce Meyer Devotional 15 December 2020]
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But 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, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!— Habakkuk 2:3 (TLB)
It’s a human tendency to want good things to happen, but too often we want them now, not later. When the good things we want aren’t happening in what we think to be a timely manner, we’re tempted to ask, “When, God, when?”
Most of us need to grow in the area of trusting God and shrink our focus on the “when” question. If your mind feels constantly worn out from reasoning, you’re not fully trusting Him. I spent a large part of my life feeling impatient, frustrated, and disappointed because there were things I didn’t know and didn’t have yet. God had to teach me to leave things in His hands. After many years of prayer and practice in this area, I finally learned to trust the One Who knows all things, and began to accept that some questions may never be answered. We prove our trust in God when we refuse to worry.
Trusting God often requires not knowing how He’s going to accomplish what needs to be done, and not knowing when He will do it. We often say, “God is never late,” but generally He isn’t early, either. He uses times of waiting to stretch our faith in Him, and to bring about change and growth in our lives. We learn to trust Him more by going through many experiences that require trust. By seeing God’s faithfulness over and over, we gradually let go of trusting ourselves and place our trust in Him.
Looking at it this way, it’s easier to see how timing plays an important part in learning to trust God. If He did everything we asked for immediately, we would never grow and develop into the people He wants us to be. If you’re waiting on something right now and you feel frustrated, I want to encourage you to ask God to help you grow in trust, and learn to be okay not knowing all the details…He’s working them out.
Prayer Starter: Father, I want to trust You more; please help me let go of any wrong expectations I might have of when certain things will happen. Thank You for caring about me, and for working it all out in Your perfect timing. In Jesus’ name, amen