Be patient and wait on God's perfect timing
"My times are in your hands ..."
- Psalm 3:15 (AMP)
I've heard it said, "The trials of today are the treasures of tomorrow." Oftentimes, in hindsight, we see how God used a trial to strengthen our faith or grow our knowledge and trust in Him.
In my own life, the amount of time it has taken for a particular trial to end can perplex me. I've seen God do amazing things overnight, while other times I've waited years for a desire to come to pass.
As I wait for my own issues to resolve, I like to think of this passage of the Bible, "My times are in your hands," and remind myself that God has a plan and a timeline for every situation we go through.
I think if we had a better understanding of his timing we could cooperate with his plan, but that timing is one of the great mysteries of God.
Why does it take God so long to answer our prayers? God has a plan for every event. Chapter after chapter in the Bible we can read how each situation took different amounts of time to resolve.
It took Joseph 13 years to go from prison to freedom, becoming second in command to the Pharaoh. While he was waiting for his release, God was helping him to reach new levels of maturity.
God wants to lead and us to follow. We have our agendas and our timing, but God's timing is perfect. He is perfecting us in the midst of our trials. He is also setting a plan in motion to grow other people involved in our lives; we must wait patiently while he is working behind the scenes to put things in place.
While we wait we can enjoy time with him by praying, singing and doing what we know He has told us to do. Sometimes I ask God if there is anything He can do to hurry up and resolve my problem. I'm not sure if it works, but I figure it doesn't hurt to ask since it tells us in the Bible passage James 4:2, "You have not, because you ask not."
I also ask if there is anything I need to do differently than I am already doing.
As we reach new levels of maturity with insights and understanding, new levels of his blessings can flow. Remember, He that delivered us in the past will deliver us again. Also, that trust is what is required to bring joy and blessing while we wait on him.
When I struggle with trusting, I turn my mind to the passage, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding," Proverbs 3:5 (NIV) and try to turn it back over to him.
To turn today's trials into tomorrow's treasures takes God's perfect time.
• Annettee Budzban is a Christian author, speaker, life coach and nurse. She can be contacted at annetteebudzban@aol.com or (847) 543-8413.