“To everything there is a season.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

“Life has a rhythm, and you are at your best when you understand that rhythm.”

My thoughts today are about “God’s timing.”

Much about life is a matter of timing. In creation, this practical matter of timing in seen in things such as the natural seasons, the predictable intricacies of the oceans’ tides, or the knowable times of sunrise and sunset. Occasionally, a person’s successes may be as much about timing as talent. That’s why most “overnight successes” didn’t happen overnight at all. They worked long and hard to perfect their skills in some measure of obscurity until their time had come. Timing isn’t everything, but it sure is something important. Even the right thing at the wrong time can be ineffective and unsatisfying.

And in your life, there are seasons. Nothing here is forever; Heaven is eternal. Solomon stated this principle very simply, “To everything there is a season; a time for every purpose under Heaven . . and He has made everything beautiful in its time.” See Ecclesiastes 3:1-8/11 NKJV. When God directs your life it has a rhythm, and you are at your best when you understand and live according to that rhythm. Your efforts are most effective and you are happiest when you walk in step with God, not lagging behind nor rushing ahead. The best preventive for either of those is simply walking hand in hand.

There are times that things will happen that you never wanted or planned; don’t panic! Sometimes, things don’t happen that you thought would; adjust. Sometimes they don’t happen the way you intended; adapt. Occasionally, things don’t happen as soon as you expected; trust God’s timing. When things aren’t working the way you were sure they would, there are two options to consider. It could be the wrong thing at the right time; that never works out well. Or possibly the right thing but at the wrong time; that results in something less than God’s highest and best. Here’s the issue: can you trust God’s wisdom and providence to give you what you need exactly when best for you, even if not what and when you wanted? God’s best will only come in God’s time.

Don’t double your efforts to force your agenda at the risk of pressing against God’s will. If God were to allow you to succeed, you will wish you hadn’t. Stop; seek God; listen to your heart, and use your head! You should always want God’s best and trust His timing. At all times in all situations, be confident of the “good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” See Romans 12:1-2 NIV. You and I tend to live by the clock and calendar. God is timeless and His purposes are eternal. “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 NKJV. His wisdom is infinite and His loving care unquestionable.

Here is God’s promise; “Blessed is the man . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord . . he is like a tree planted by streams of water, which brings yields its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 NIV. Fruit in season prospers as God created it; fruit out of season will not.

My prayer for you today is that you will respect God’s seasons and trust His timing.