To enjoy your walk with God and avoid feelings of frustration, you need to recognise that God has His own timetable for everything that occurs in the life of every individual. For example, when it is not time for a man to be rich, all his efforts towards prosperity will be in vain, no matter how hard he tries; but when God’s time comes, regardless of any contrary circumstances, he will become astonishingly rich with ease. In fact, God’s timetable includes the time of birth and death of everyone. When a person is not due to die on God’s timetable, nothing can kill him or her. However, when the time comes for someone to die, no medical practitioner or prayer warrior can prevent it. Hezekiah’s case may sound exceptional, but then, it boils down to the fact that God changed the programme for him (Isaiah 38). As children of the Most High, we need to grow in our knowledge of how God works. Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
Since there is a time for everything and purpose, wisdom demands that we seek God’s face to know His will and timing, so that we don’t run ourselves to death pursuing shadows.
Martha in John 11:21 reflects the attitude that several believers have towards God’s timing of things. She accused Jesus of being too slow to respond to their SOS call when her brother was sick, possibly suggesting that Jesus was not concerned about his condition. That was very characteristic of Martha; she always wanted things done quickly and “No wonder Jesus once told her in Luke 10:41b:
“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.”
Unlike Martha, people of faith must be wary of the “microwave” style of living. It did not help situations in times past and cannot help today. Abraham cut corners to have a son in Ishmael, and the whole world is still paying dearly for it (Genesis 16). If only he had waited for God’s own timing! In spite of what he did, God was still faithful to His promise of giving him a son through Sarah; his hasty act was therefore unnecessary. King Saul also offered a sacrifice which he was not supposed to because he could not wait for God’s appointed time, and this marked the beginning of the end for him (1st Samuel 13:7-14). In order not to fall into the same error, we must receive David’s counsel in Psalm 37:7a, which says:
“Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him:”
May the Lord grant you the grace to wait for His perfect timing. Are you unmarried? Please wait for God to send you your perfect mate at His own time, and do not make your own choice in haste. God bless you as you wait for Him in Jesus’ Name.
Written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye.