Trusting God's Timing: 4 Things I've Learned

I am by nature the plan-my-whole-life-before-breakfast type. I trust God and want to follow His plan and timeline for my life. But if I can be honest with you, really honest… some days it’s just plain hard.

It’s not until now that I relate to Galatians 6:9 -

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. “

There are days, weeks, and sometimes months when you I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, or understand how God is working the current situation for my good (Romans 8:28).

I’ve seen glimpses of God’s plan for life, but my current situation looks nothing like the future He’s shown me. I want so badly to move on from my desk job but God says, “Not yet”. I’ve been trying not to grow weary in this season by focusing on Christ and not my situation. I’ve learned a lot of lessons in the process and I want to share a few of them with you.

1. Don’t trust your feelings

A year and a half ago I knew God was calling me to move a new city. I really didn’t want to, and I had no idea how smooth or difficult the transition would be. But instead of succumbing to the fear and doubt, I stepped out on faith. Hold on to His promises.

Feelings can lead us astray. Fear, anger, and even excitement can cause us to make poor decisions in the heat of a moment. We must rely on God’s word and Spirit to guide us.

There’s a huge misconception that God-led decisions will always feel right. I’ve found that those decisions can feel anywhere from good to completely terrifying. What feels right isn’t always the best decision. Sometimes, the hardest thing to do is the very thing you need do.

2. Be honest - With God and yourself.

God is personal. We can come to God just as we are and ask honestly for what we need. There’s no need to say “perfect” prayers ( there's no such thing) or lengthy ones.

God knows what’s on your mind and in your heart. He knows what we need before we ask (Matt 6:8). I’ve told God that I don’t understand what He’s doing. There have been times when I couldn’t find the words to pray, all I could do is cry and whisper, “Jesus”.

When we are honest with God we invite Him to teach, discipline, and help us. And in the process we see just how powerful and understanding He is.

3. Pray to understand the purpose of your current situation

Jobs, family dynamics, relationships, rejections, promotions - God uses these things to mature our faith and character. There are characteristics we need to develop, habits we must learn to break, and ever- increasing opportunities to go deeper in our relationship with Christ.

In times of frustration, I ask God to show me what He is teaching me and where I’m falling short. I’ve learned that to be ready for the next step, we have to allow God to work in us right where we are.

4. Become familiar with God’s character and His promises

You learn about someone by talking to them and spending time with them. It’s the same with God. It’s difficult to have faith in someone you don’t know or are unfamiliar with. When we seek him wholeheartedly we will find him (Jeremiah 29:13) and He will draw closer to us (James 4:7).

He will reveal his character – love, compassion, patience, kindness, forgiveness, faithfulness – to us. He will also give us wisdom and revelation through the Holy Spirit.

I hope these lessons help and encourage you in your own walk with Christ. That's the beautiful thing about community, we learn from each other. That being said, I'd love to hear from you! What lessons have you learned about trusting God and His timing? Comment below.

Much love and grace,

Tiffanie