A story of hope if you’re struggling with God’s timing

God's timing is perfect, but it doesn't always feel that way. If you're waiting on God and struggling to trust God's plan and cling to God' promises, this encouragement is for you. Christian quotes, faith quotes, Words of encouragement for women

Do you hate the waiting game? So did my daughter. God’s timing is perfect, but it doesn’t always feel that way. Here’s hope and encouragement if you’re wrestling with the clock.

{Note: Although the message in this post is TIMELESS, the events described happened over two years ago. For the latest on how this daughter is seeking God’s timing, see Encouraging your single daughter: 10 do’s and don’ts.}


I watched her post on her shiny new blog about being “in between” as the year came to a close. She went on to post, “My Plan Has Ended,” acknowledging that she had come to the end of the course we charted for her undergraduate degree. My oldest daughter was waiting expectantly to see what God had next – a little fearful of the unknown, but full of faith.

But with each passing week, her efforts to find a job and get started with “real” life seemed fruitless. She struggled against the seeming silence of the God whom she believed would guide her through each step.

I would know when her Pinterest feed was full of quotes like …

“Until God opens the next door, I’m going to praise Him in the hallway.”
“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”
“Don’t mistake God’s patience for His absence. His timing is perfect and His presence is constant.”

… that she was preaching to herself instead of listening to herself. Resolutely proclaiming what she knew had to be true.

But it was hard. She finally broke down and let it all spill in a post titled, “Facing the Unknown,” where she made these statements:

[blockquote type=”center”]”I’ll be honest, it is frustrating not knowing the next step and not being able to plan.
That’s just the plain and simple truth.
I know what the Bible says about “not worrying about tomorrow” and trusting in God’s timing.
I get those good-intention ‘speeches’ all the time.
I hate the ‘waiting’ game. There. I said it. It is the worst game ever invented. Not fun. At. All.
If I could possess a superpower, it would be the ability to travel through time. Then I could avoid all the worrying about the future because I would already know.”
[/blockquote]

Um, yes. That reference to those “good-intention speeches” – that would be me. Mom, here.
And really, I didn’t give them that often. I learned early on they weren’t helping that much and I’d save them for when I thought her own internal sermon was waning. Otherwise, I “just” prayed.

How I Prayed for My Daughter

I didn’t exactly pray for what she was asking for, however.

She was in the middle of the drama, but I had a prime box seat with a much different perspective, and I had paid its ticket price with my own experience of waiting. So what did I pray for?

First, I told God “thank you” for the season of rest.

After graduating high school early, this child finished her undergraduate degree ahead of schedule and was starting her graduate work at age 19. We had encouraged her to take it slowly, but she went straight into applying for “big girl” jobs, believing she needed a new plan.

But I knew the child needed a break.
As I watched things NOT fall into place for her, I had my suspicions about what God was doing.
I had one of those rare opportunities to speak truth and I told her:

“Scripture says of some sheep, ‘He makes me lie down in green pastures.’
Honey, you are that kind of sheep. You had to be made to lie down.”

Next, I told God “thank you” for what I could see He was teaching her – lessons I never could.

Mostly because she took after me so much.
She is a planner who always had a plan. And she usually had it right.
When she was only four, she was correcting me if I didn’t put the dishes up in the “right” place.
God was teaching her to lean into Him, not lean on herself.
It was painful to watch her struggle, but I knew personally that it would be a precious lesson she would never forget.

And finally, I asked Him to go with her through each step, before each interview, empowering her to do her best.

Don’t let her self-esteem suffer, Lord. Help her to do absolutely everything she can do, and come away knowing she left it all on the table. Encourage her, Lord. And provide – in your perfect timing, dear Jesus.

God’s Timing is Perfect

She began the last week of March with a blog post “The Start of Something New.”
She wrote about her frustrations using the past tense and proclaimed the following as the present tense:

[blockquote type=”center”]”I have had to relinquish my illusion of control. My crutches have been removed and I have been “forced” to pray over Scripture, rely on the Lord, and trust Him for the next step, often with my prayers mirroring that of Grant Taylor in Facing the Giants, “Lord give me somethin’, show me somethin.”
And then just like in the movie, a Mr. Bridges-like friend or family member lovingly reminds me of this, “Until the Lord moves you, you’re to bloom right where you’re planted.”
With spring almost here to stay, it’s perfect planting season and I’m going to prepare my fields for the rain.
My situation remains the same.
But I have refocused my perspective and I know the rain is coming and I trust in my faithful Lord and will continue to use this time of waiting to do and accomplish that which I can’t when working full-time.
And just as spring brings new life and fresh starts, I’m hoping this is the start of something new…”
[/blockquote]

Within a week after she wrote that last post, we received a text from her:  “I got the job!” We knew there were two that were still a possibility, so those of us on that chain had to ask, “Which one?”

Within two hours of the first text, we received another:
“OH.MY.WORD.” (btw, not a good text to send your parents)
That text was followed with this explanation: She had just received a call from the second job. It was also an offer of employment.

I do not believe in coincidences. The two offers within two hours were also part of the lesson God had prepared for her. His timing is perfect.

Overwhelmed by the Deluge

I had watched from my box seat for many months and believed that God would provide, despite her discouragement.
But I never expected Him to show off with such an overt, overwhelming, unmistakable display of spring.

Oh, me of little faith. Nothing is impossible for my God.

It was eye-opening for my own journey.
As I watched her squirm — uncomfortable with the unknown and questioning the seeming silence — it was as if I was looking into a mirror.
I have been there more times than I care to admit.

How often I have begged God to speed up His timing — to give me something different than what I had at the time. And when it didn’t  turn out like I envisioned, I  questioned if He was just leaving me in the dark.

Her story reminds me that God still works even when we question His plan and wonder if He’s still there.
He doesn’t give in and give us what we want if it isn’t what we need.
He allows us to hate the waiting game, and not punish us by withholding an answer.

He’s ok with the fact that we may not fully appreciate the winter.
And when it is time for spring – when we have prepared our fields for rain – He can show off with a deluge that will leave us breathless and proclaiming, “God, I am overwhelmed.”

God is good. All the time.
All the time. Our God is GOOD.
And God’s timing is PERFECT.


[button shape=”rounded” size=”large” href=”https://christigee.com/seeking-gods-will-trusting-gods-timing/” title=”Seeking God’s Will | Trusting God’s Timing info_content=”” lightbox_caption=”” id=”” class=”” style=””]Keep Reading: More Posts Like This[/button]
Seeking God's will and trusting God's timing is perfect

God’s timing is perfect!
This powerful list of articles includes
biblically-based guidance for you in seeking God’s will and trusting His timing.

From our Family Bookshelf:

{This post contains affiliate links for your convenience and to support this blog. Click here to read my full disclosure policy.}

Our family has read the following books during our times of searching for God’s will and timing.
These are still on our shelves (or Kindle) today. They’re too good to let go.

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Making Life & Words Count!



48 responses to “A story of hope if you’re struggling with God’s timing”

  1. I’m right now passing thru the waiting game – of course it’s no fun. Once God comes thru, I’ll visit back and share HIS amazing work in my life

  2. Hi Rachel,

    I thought i share this with you …

    Genesis 18:14 “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

    When God made some of the most amazing promises to Abraham, it was the smaller thing’s for God to do that seemed impossible for Abraham and Sarah too accept. That was Abraham and Sarah would surely have a child. Sarah even laughed about the promise, indicating a great amount of doubt in her heart but Abraham had doubts too as to whether he and Sarah would bear a child in their old age. God had been telling Abraham this for years yet nothing ever happened. Abraham had to wait a very, very long time but in His immaculate timing, God came through and Isaac was born. Of course He did! He is God.

  3. Great post! I’m in a season of waiting and my focus is to trust the Lord’s timing. My husband and I are waitlisted to adopt our first child. So excited and hopeful it happens this year but only if it’s HIS will. Our tagline for the process is Joyfully Waiting… Some days are tough though. We just know He is always right on time.:)

    • What an exciting time, but I can imagine how tough the waiting is. It sounds like you are working diligently to choose joy. What a testimony you are walking through. Thanks for sharing here!

  4. Thank you for all your wonderful articles. The thing is, I don’t mind waiting. Certainly we cannot have all we want at our timing in our ways. He works and His timing is perfect. His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. He is a good God. I’ve learned to go in with lufe and to be thankful for the little things. But…, I struggle heavily with being single, at forty years old. Never married or in been in a relationship. Work is also not great. I’m really discouraged and my heart fails to believe the truths my heart knows. It just feels like I’ve been waiting long enough but there is nothing I can do than wait more. I feel ashamed for not trusting God with my whole heart and wonder if this season will ever change…

    • Hi Rachel ~

      First, I am honored to know your story. Thank you for being here.

      I’m so sorry that discouragement is trying to hold your heart for ransom. I know this strategy of the enemy all too well and I feel your pain through the words you chose to share.

      Continue to press in and seek after your good, loving Father who knows your heart and can handle your doubt, fear, and discouragement. Truly, He is big enough and there is nothing that can separate you from His love. Continue to hold on. Just because your feelings aren’t in line right now is no reason to be ashamed. Often, my fear collides with my faith and I’ve faltered more than I like to admit.

      If you’re interested in a Scripture-rich post that might have words that resonate, see:
      https://christigee.com/when-god-doesnt-show-off/

      and this one also: https://christigee.com/3-faith-filled-words-for-the-discouraged-heart/

      I also invite you to check out the 6cries.com resource. Many of those songs may lead your heart until it can lead on its own.

      Thank you again for sharing your struggle. You are not alone.

      Christi

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