In God’s Time
Read Romans 5:6 and Galatians 4:4. What do they tell us about God’s
timing?
In these verses, Paul tells us that Jesus came to die for us at exactly
the right time. But Paul does not tell us why it was the right time. It
is very easy to read these verses and wonder, Why did Jesus wait for
thousands of years until He came to the earth to deal with sin—didn’t
the universe understand that sin was a very bad thing long before then?
We may ask why Jesus is waiting to come the second time, as well. We
also may ask, Why is the Lord waiting so long to answer my prayer?
Think about, for instance, the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9:24–27,
the prophecy that points to Jesus as the Messiah (review it if you
need to). How long was this time period? What does this tell you
about learning to wait for things in God’s time, even if it takes what
seems to us a long time?
There are many important spiritual reasons why we will experi-
ence waiting times. First, waiting can refocus our attention away from
“things” and back to God Himself. Second, waiting allows us to develop
a clearer picture of our own motives and desires. Third, waiting builds
perseverance—
spiritual stamina. Fourth, waiting opens the door to
developing many spiritual strengths, such as faith and trust. Fifth, waiting
allows God to put down other pieces in the puzzle of the bigger picture.
Sixth, we may never know the reason we have to wait; hence, we learn to
live by faith. Can you think of any other reasons for waiting?
What examples can you find in the Bible of God doing things in
His own time that can help you learn to trust that He will do for
you what’s right in His own time, as well? (Think, for instance,
about Abraham and Sarah and the promise of a son.) At the same
time, ask yourself, “What might I be doing that could be delaying
the answer to a prayer that could have been answered long ago?”
