How I Learned to Wait on God's Timing

Emmanuel Abimbola

We live in a world where instant gratification often takes precedence, where we expect answers, results, and solutions to our problems at the snap of our fingers. However, as believers, waiting on God's timing takes on a whole new significance.

When we embark on the path of waiting, it's not merely the passage of time but a purposeful surrender of our desires, needs, and anxieties into the hands of the Almighty. It's an acknowledgment that we are not in control and that there exists a divine orchestration beyond our comprehension. This surrender can be a humbling experience that reshapes our hearts and minds.

Psalm 27:14 encourages us with these words: "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." This verse teaches us that waiting is not a passive endeavor but an active act of courage and hope.

As we practice the act of waiting, we learn profound lessons. We understand the art of patience, a virtue that extends far beyond the clock's ticking. Waiting cultivates a deep trust in God's promises, fostering resilience in the face of uncertainty. It molds our character, refining our faith like precious gold in the furnace.

How I Learned to Wait on God’s Timing

Four years ago, my journey towards having a house I could call my own began. It was a house I intended to build using the savings I had accumulated from my previous job. I had purchased a piece of land with eagerness and excitement, fueled by the prospect of generating additional income from a side business I had ventured into. I planned to channel the profits from this venture into constructing the house of my dreams.

I was deeply entrenched in my plans and consumed by anxiety, which left me unable to hear God's subtle message that it wasn't the right time yet. Then, one day, I heard the voice of the Lord telling me that it was not the appropriate moment to embark on such a project. Instead, He assured me that He would be the one to build the house when the timing was perfect.

Initially, I brushed off this divine message, convinced that I had everything meticulously arranged. I even proceeded to consult with an architect and had the building plans and other necessary documents in the pipeline.

I tried diligently to fathom why this persistent voice kept urging me to be patient and wait. But, truthfully, I couldn't make sense of it, and I attributed it to self-doubt or some other uncertainty.

As time passed, the building plans were finalized, and we began preparations to order the construction materials. At this juncture, that voice spoke to me once more, this time with greater firmness, instructing me to halt and exercise patience. This time, I heeded the voice and inquired why. The response was clear: It was neither the right place nor the right time for me to build a house. Most significantly, this project was not mine but His, and He would reveal why.

On a fateful rainy day, the voice directed me to go to the land and witness something for myself. I promptly got into my car, drove to the site, and was taken aback by what I encountered. The road leading to the land was submerged, rendering it impassable for any vehicle. After some effort, I managed to find a way through and discovered that the entire piece of land was inundated with water. It was a truly alarming sight, and fear gripped me. I later learned from sources that this was a peculiar occurrence in that area every rainy season. 

At that moment, I comprehended that I would have made a grave mistake if I had not exercised patience and proceeded with my plans. It was then that I realized why God had persistently urged me to wait. He possesses foresight, seeing what we cannot, and is perpetually prepared to shield us from disaster, safeguarding us from our own misguided decisions. His plans are grander than ours, and all we need to do is listen and follow His guidance and timing patiently.

In the subsequent year, I found a buyer for the land, and remarkably, God presented me with a superior site. Additionally, I discovered numerous flaws in the initial building plan; the design was fundamentally flawed and would have incurred triple the budgeted costs to rectify. Subsequently, I obtained a superior building plan, and God mysteriously initiated the project. It became evident that God was indeed constructing the house, as He had earlier revealed, because I encountered numerous financial obstacles during the project. Sometimes, I would question if I was in a dream, for even when I lacked the funds, suppliers were eager to provide me with all the necessary building materials; all I had to do was ask.

Ultimately, I surrendered to God, and I am delighted today to testify that God's timing is indeed perfect. As Christians, we should learn not to rely solely on our abilities, finances, and wisdom. Instead, we must consistently seek God's counsel and humbly submit to His guidance in all aspects of our lives.

If you believe you have grand plans for your life, your family, and your future, rest assured that God has a far more perfect plan. All we need to do is ask Him to lead the way.

What I Have Learned from Waiting for God's Timing

It is not always easy to wait. It frequently entails battling uncertainty, battling impatience, and overcoming our desire for quick fixes. But even in the midst of waiting, we find comfort in God's constant presence. Although we may not always be able to understand it right now, we are aware that He is not constrained by our timetables and instead moves according to His perfect rhythm.

Taking action becomes crucial on this journey. We turn to prayer to ask for God's strength and direction. We ponder His Word and take comfort from the accounts of those who patiently waited. We look for guidance from other Christians who have traveled parallel paths and can impart their wisdom.

The benefits of waiting become apparent over time. As we trust in God's timing, we witness His faithfulness in ways we could never have imagined. Doors open, solutions emerge, and our lives align with His divine plan. In the waiting, we are transformed, growing in spiritual maturity and resilience.

Some lessons I have personally learned in my life journey when it comes to waiting on God’s timing are: 

God's timing is always perfect. His wisdom far surpasses our plans and schedules, and God's orchestration is beyond our comprehension. His plans unfold at precisely the right moment.

Waiting is not merely the passage of time; it's a purposeful exercise in patience. It taught me the art of enduring with grace and trust. Patience is a vital virtue in the Christian journey and can be developed through trials.

It is important to trust God's promises, even when circumstances seem to dictate otherwise. God's Word is steadfast and unwavering, a source of hope and assurance during moments of doubt and uncertainty.

It pays to heed God's voice and listen to His guidance. Discerning His voice and acting upon it can spare us from costly mistakes and lead us to His perfect will.

Surrendering your plans to God and humbly accepting His direction are pivotal lessons. Our willingness to relinquish control and acknowledge God as the supreme Builder of our life's endeavors is the humility required in our relationship with Him.

God knows our future and is always prepared to save us from disaster and provide for our needs, often in ways we can't foresee. Let's seek God's counsel in all aspects of our lives. Our abilities, finances, and wisdom are insufficient without His guidance. Trusting God's leading is the key to success and fulfillment.

Trust and Surrender

Trusting in God's timing is a profound acknowledgment of His sovereignty and wisdom. It is an act of surrender, an admission that God's knowledge surpasses our finite understanding. By entrusting our plans, desires, and aspirations to Him, we declare our faith that He knows what is best for us and when it is best for us.

It is during seasons of waiting that our faith is refined and deepened. Trusting in God's timing often involves enduring trials, facing uncertainties, and battling doubts. Yet, it is precisely in these moments of testing that our faith grows stronger and our character is shaped. 

He orchestrates events and circumstances in such a way that His divine plan unfolds at precisely the right moment. By trusting in His timing, we position ourselves to be in alignment with His purpose. We become vessels through which His will is accomplished and His glory is revealed.

We are also reminded during waiting times that God's love is not contingent on how quickly He answers our prayers. Rather, His love is unconditional and unwavering. Trusting in His timing reflects our confidence in His love, knowing that He desires what is best for us, even if it means delaying our desires for a season.

Photo Credit: ©Pexels/JÉSHOOTS


Emmanuel Abimbola is a creative freelance writer, blogger, and web designer. He is a devout Christian with an uncompromising faith who hails from Ondo State in Nigeria, West Africa. As a lover of kids, Emmanuel runs a small elementary school in Arigidi, Nigeria.

More from iBelieve.com