It’s All About God’s Timing

“These all wait for You, that You may give them their food in due season.”

PSALM 104:27
 
PONDER THIS

Some people are tuned into God, while others are not. What does it mean to wait upon God? It means to long for Him, to listen to Him, and to look for Him to be a part of your life. It also means to look to Him. Do you believe God is going to take care of you? Are you looking to Him? Do you long for Him? Do you listen to Him? Do you look to Him like the animals, the birds, and the beasts of the forest look for their food in due season. That’s what it means to wait upon Him. Do you really believe God can meet your needs? We can say with our mouths that we believe that it’s true, but has this truth taken root in your life? Do you believe God can meet your needs? Or are you looking somewhere else?

Being tuned into God means living for Him. It means your life is hidden in Christ, your old ways have died, and you live like Christ, looking to Him for how to live. Wait upon Him!

How have you experienced waiting on the Lord? What have been the challenges of waiting on the Lord?
Where are the places you look to find help outside of God? What helps you look to Him?

PRACTICE THIS

Tell God about the ways you struggle to look to Him and wait on Him. Ask Him for endurance to trust Him daily.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

His Timing Is Perfect

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may find grace for a well-timed help. (Hebrews 4:16, my literal translation)

I know this precious verse is usually translated, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” But that is a paraphrase — a true one — to show that God shows up just when we need him. But the literal focus is on how timely the help is.

All ministry is in the future — a moment away, or a month away, or a year, or a decade. We have ample time to fret about our inadequacy. When this happens, we must turn to prayer.

Prayer is the form of faith that connects us today with the grace that will make us adequate for tomorrow’s ministry. Timing really matters.

What if grace comes too early or comes too late? The traditional translation of Hebrews 4:16 does not make clear a very precious promise in this regard. We need a more literal rendering to see it. The promise is not merely that we find grace “to help in time of need,” but that the grace is well-timed by God.

The point is that prayer is the way to find future grace for a well-timed help. This grace of God always arrives from the “throne of grace” on time. The phrase “throne of grace” means that future grace comes from the King of the universe who sets the times by his own authority (Acts 1:7).

His timing is perfect, but it is rarely ours: “For a thousand years in [his] sight are but as yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). At the global level, he sets the times for nations to rise and fall (Acts 17:26). And at the personal level, “My times are in [his] hand” (Psalm 31:15).

When we wonder about the timing of future grace, we must think on the “throne of grace.” Nothing can hinder God’s plan to send grace when it will be best for us. Future grace is always well-timed.

John Piper 

God Is Always Right on Time

PRAY OVER THIS

“…knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.”

1 Peter 1:18-19

 

PONDER THIS

When Jesus spoke in parables, He did so not only to reveal but also to conceal. He knew when to share and when to guard. His timing was intentional. Jesus knew the time to reveal the treasure He had. He timed it all perfectly. He revealed the treasure, covered it back up again, and went to redeem that treasure. He’s the One who paid the price to buy the field of Matthew 13:44.

Jesus purchased the field with His own blood. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). He is the One who covered that treasure. He’s the One who’s coming to reveal the treasure, to redeem the treasure, and to reclaim the treasure. What does that mean for us? Everything’s on schedule; God’s timing is not off. He knows exactly what He is doing.

When has it been hard for you to trust God’s timing? Where are you waiting on God right now?

How does God’s intentional timing encourage you?

PRACTICE THIS

Share with a friend something you have struggled with regarding God’s timing.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers

Are You Unwilling to Wait?

PRAY OVER THIS

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

 

PONDER THIS

Over and over again in the Bible, we are told to wait upon the Lord. When you don’t understand, don’t be unwilling to wait. A preacher who was in a hard spot said to me, “I know that God put me here. I just wonder if He remembers where He put me.” God knows where you are. The very hairs of your head are numbered. And the God that was with Joseph when he was a lad, the God who was with Joseph when he was serving in Potiphar’s house, was the God who was with Joseph when he languished, forgotten in prison.

God has His schedule. When you don’t understand, don’t demand to understand, don’t fail to be faithful, don’t bow to bitterness. God is never late, but He’s never ahead of time. It’s like the sun coming up. One thing about the sun coming up is you can’t hurry it and you can’t stop it. That’s the way God is. God is always on time.

Wait on God. Don’t be unwilling to wait. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God. In due time, He’ll lift you up. When you don’t understand, don’t get feverish. Wait on Him.

When have you struggled to trust God’s timing?

What are some reasons we often want to rush God?

PRACTICE THIS

Make a list of things that you have been impatient about. Pray over that list and ask God to help you trust His timing with those things.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Are You Impatient with God?

“Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!”

Psalm 27:14

Ponder This

Have you ever become impatient with the Lord, wondering why God doesn’t move sooner? Did you know you can do the right thing at the wrong time? Moses sought to deliver the children of Israel, but he didn’t wait on God, so he ended up killing an Egyptian and spent forty years on the back side of the desert, going around in circles (Exodus 2:11-22). He moved before God moved.

Jesus was never in a hurry; Jesus was never late; and Jesus accomplished everything God gave Him to do. Now, I’m sure many people were impatient with Jesus; they wanted to know, “Jesus, why aren’t you in a bigger rush?” Jesus spent thirty years in a carpenter’s shop. We might think, “Hey, if you’re the Messiah, why are you wasting thirty years?” Do you know what He said repeatedly? “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4; see also 2:7). He was waiting on God.

Mary and Martha came to Jesus saying, “Come, help, Lazarus is sick” (John 11:3, author’s paraphrase). Jesus delayed and waited until Lazarus was dead, and then He came and raised him. At first, the people were pouting, then they were praising. Trust God’s timing.

When have you tried to do something in your time instead of God’s? How did that work out?

What makes it difficult to trust God’s timing?

Practice This

Make a list of the things you are impatient with God about. Ask Him to guide you to patience in those areas.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

His Timing Is Perfect

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may find grace for a well-timed help. (Hebrews 4:16, my literal translation)

I know this precious verse is usually translated, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” But that is a paraphrase — a true one — to show that God shows up just when we need him. But the literal focus is on how timely the help is.

All ministry is in the future — a moment away, or a month away, or a year, or a decade. We have ample time to fret about our inadequacy. When this happens, we must turn to prayer.

Prayer is the form of faith that connects us today with the grace that will make us adequate for tomorrow’s ministry. Timing really matters.

What if grace comes too early or comes too late? The traditional translation of Hebrews 4:16 does not make clear a very precious promise in this regard. We need a more literal rendering to see it. The promise is not merely that we find grace “to help in time of need,” but that the grace is well-timed by God.

The point is that prayer is the way to find future grace for a well-timed help. This grace of God always arrives from the “throne of grace” on time. The phrase “throne of grace” means that future grace comes from the King of the universe who sets the times by his own authority (Acts 1:7).

His timing is perfect, but it is rarely ours: “For a thousand years in [his] sight are but as yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). At the global level, he sets the times for nations to rise and fall (Acts 17:26). And at the personal level, “My times are in [his] hand” (Psalm 31:15).

When we wonder about the timing of future grace, we must think on the “throne of grace.” Nothing can hinder God’s plan to send grace when it will be best for us. Future grace is always well-timed.

John Piper 

His Timing Is Perfect

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may find grace for a well-timed help. (Hebrews 4:16, my literal translation)

I know this precious verse is usually translated, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” But that is a paraphrase — a true one — to show that God shows up just when we need him. But the literal focus is on how timely the help is.

All ministry is in the future — a moment away, or a month away, or a year, or a decade. We have ample time to fret about our inadequacy. When this happens, we must turn to prayer.

Prayer is the form of faith that connects us today with the grace that will make us adequate for tomorrow’s ministry. Timing really matters.

What if grace comes too early or comes too late? The traditional translation of Hebrews 4:16 does not make clear a very precious promise in this regard. We need a more literal rendering to see it. The promise is not merely that we find grace “to help in time of need,” but that the grace is well-timed by God.

The point is that prayer is the way to find future grace for a well-timed help. This grace of God always arrives from the “throne of grace” on time. The phrase “throne of grace” means that future grace comes from the King of the universe who sets the times by his own authority (Acts 1:7).

His timing is perfect, but it is rarely ours: “For a thousand years in [his] sight are but as yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). At the global level, he sets the times for nations to rise and fall (Acts 17:26). And at the personal level, “My times are in [his] hand” (Psalm 31:15).

When we wonder about the timing of future grace, we must think on the “throne of grace.” Nothing can hinder God’s plan to send grace when it will be best for us. Future grace is always well-timed.

John Piper 

Possible with God

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” (John 10:16)

God has a people in every people group in the world. He will call them through the gospel with Creator power. And they will believe! What a power is in these words for overcoming discouragement in the hard places of the frontiers!

The story of Peter Cameron Scott is a good illustration. Born in Glasgow in 1867, Scott became the founder of the Africa Inland Mission. But his beginnings in Africa were anything but auspicious.

His first trip to Africa ended in a severe attack of malaria that sent him home. He resolved to return after he recuperated. This return was especially gratifying to him because this time his brother John joined him. But before long, John was struck down by fever.

All alone, Peter buried his brother in African soil, and in the agony of those days recommitted himself to preach the gospel in Africa. Yet his health gave way again, and he had to return to England.

How would he ever pull out of the desolation and depression of those days? He had pledged himself to God. But where could he find the strength to go back to Africa? With man it was impossible!

He found strength in Westminster Abbey. David Livingstone’s tomb is still there. Scott entered quietly, found the tomb, and knelt in front of it to pray. The inscription reads:

OTHER SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THEM ALSO I MUST BRING.

He rose from his knees with a new hope. He returned to Africa. And today, over a hundred years later, the mission he founded is a vibrant, growing force for the gospel in Africa.

If your greatest joy is to experience the infilling grace of God overflowing from you for the good of others, then the best news in all the world is that God will do the impossible through you for the salvation of the unreached peoples.

John Piper 

His Timing Is Perfect

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may find grace for a well-timed help. (Hebrews 4:16, my literal translation)

I know this precious verse is usually translated, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” But that is a paraphrase — a true one — to show that God shows up just when we need him. But the literal focus is on how timely the help is.

All ministry is in the future — a moment away, or a month away, or a year, or a decade. We have ample time to fret about our inadequacy. When this happens, we must turn to prayer.

Prayer is the form of faith that connects us today with the grace that will make us adequate for tomorrow’s ministry. Timing really matters.

What if grace comes too early or comes too late? The traditional translation of Hebrews 4:16 does not make clear a very precious promise in this regard. We need a more literal rendering to see it. The promise is not merely that we find grace “to help in time of need,” but that the grace is well-timed by God.

The point is that prayer is the way to find future grace for a well-timed help. This grace of God always arrives from the “throne of grace” on time. The phrase “throne of grace” means that future grace comes from the King of the universe who sets the times by his own authority (Acts 1:7).

His timing is perfect, but it is rarely ours: “For a thousand years in [his] sight are but as yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). At the global level, he sets the times for nations to rise and fall (Acts 17:26). And at the personal level, “My times are in [his] hand” (Psalm 31:15).

When we wonder about the timing of future grace, we must think on the “throne of grace.” Nothing can hinder God’s plan to send grace when it will be best for us. Future grace is always well-timed.

John Piper