You May Be in a Hurry, but God Isn’t

In many cultures today, fast is better. But that’s not the way God works.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “God . . . does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing” (NCV). 

God has a plan for your life. He also has a timetable for that plan. Yet God never explains his timetable. He doesn’t have to—he’s God. And you can trust that he has your best interest at heart.

One of the most painful things in life is when you’re in a hurry and God’s not. That usually leads to impatience.

Impatience, basically, is a lack of trust. When you’re impatient, you’re saying, “God, I don’t really trust you and your timing. I don’t think you have my best interest at heart.”

You get worried and hurried. Then you start scurrying because you don’t trust God to act at the right time and in the right way.

As children grow up, part of maturing is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet.” A delay is not a denial.

As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have to learn the same thing with God. His delays are not denials. God knows the right time and the right way. He has a plan and a timetable. And his timing is perfect.

When Saddleback Church grew for 15 years without a building, God used this verse to encourage me for all those years: “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3 NLT).

Has God given you a vision that hasn’t happened yet? You can trust that it’s coming—on God’s timetable.