But when you understand that
the time has already been set, it takes all pressure off you. You won’t live
worried, wondering when this is ever going to happen. You’ll relax and enjoy your
life, knowing that the promise has already been scheduled by the Creator of the
universe.
Maybe you have been praying
about a situation for a long time and don’t see anything happening. You could
easily be discouraged, but what if God were to pull back the curtain and allow
you to see into the future, and you saw that on February 12 at 2:33 in the
afternoon, you were going to meet the person of your dreams? You wouldn’t be
discouraged. You would be excited; you would start working out and go buy some
new cloths. Why? You know the big day is coming.
Here’s where it faith. God
promises that there are set times in our future, but he doesn’t tell us when
they will be. Your set time may be tomorrow morning. Your set time may be two
years from now. My question is, “Do you trust God enough to believe that your
set times are coming?” Or “Are you
willing to wait with good attitude, knowing that they’re on the way?” Or “Will
you get discouraged?” You have to have a
new perspective. God has a set time for you to break that addiction. It’s
already in your future. Don’t let negative thoughts talk you out of it. There
is a set time for you to be completely well, a set time for God to turn the
legal situation around. Now, quit worrying about it. Quit stressing out,
thinking, What if I don’t meet the right person? What if I don’t ever get well?
What if I’m not good looking? What if I’m unlucky?
‘‘Wait Patiently, For It Shall Surely Come’’
The scripture says, “Those who
have believed enter into the rest of God.” The way you know you really believe
is that you have a rest. You’re at peace. You know the answer is on the way.
You know the right people and the right opportunities have already been set in
your future. You’ve prayed, believed and stood in faith. Let me assure you that
you’re going to come into set times of favor, a set time where a problem
suddenly turns around, a set time where you meet the right person, a set time
where a good break thrusts you years ahead.
That’s what Habakkuk said.
“The vision is for an appointed time. It may seem slow in coming, but wait
patiently, for it will surely come.” Not “maybe come.” Not “I hope so.” God has
already set the date. The appointed time has already been put on your calendar.
One translation says, “It won’t be one second late”
Sometimes you think, everybody
is getting ahead of me. My friends are all married and I’m single. My coworkers
are being promoted, but I’m still stuck here. Don’t get discouraged. God knows
how to make up for what seems like lost time. God doesn’t always take us
logically from A to B to C. Sometimes God will take you from A to B to C, and
then thrust you all the way down to S, T, U, and V. What happened? You hit a
set time that pushed you fifty years ahead. Quit worrying about getting ahead
of you and just run your race, be the best you can be, keep treating people
right, keep honoring God with your life and God will get you where you’re
supposed to be. That promotion, that healing, that breakthrough and that right
person won’t be one second late. Our God is not a random God. He is a precise
God. He has lined up solutions for you down to the very second.
The
Appointed Time Is the Best Time
You can trust God’s timing
because God has it all figured out. What you’re praying about and what you’re
believing for are not going to be second late. If it hasn’t happened yet, it
doesn’t mean something is wrong. It doesn’t mean God is mad at you. It doesn’t
mean it’s never going to work out. God has already established the Creator of
the universe; not randomly, not vaguely. Down to the millisecond. Down to the
most finite, small detail. When you understand this, it takes all the pressure
off. You won’t go around wondering when something is going to happen. “God,
when are you going to change my husband? God, when are you going to change my
wife? God, when are you going to answer my prayers? God, when am I going to
break free from this addictions?” when you know the time has been set, you’ll
have peace. Whether its five days or twenty years, you know that what God
promised He will bring to pass.
A great prayer we should
pray every day is, “God, give me the grace to accept your timing.” I’d love to
tell you that if you stay in faith, if you believe, God will always answer your
prayers within twenty-four hours, or at least within the first week. But we
know that’s not reality. God promises he will be true to his word, but he never
puts a time frame on it. It would be easier if God told us when we were going
to get well, when we would meet the right person, when we would become rich.
But that wouldn’t take any faith. It takes faith to say, “God, I don’t know
when you are going to do it, but I trust you enough to believe that you will do
it, that the answer is already in my future.”
The scripture says, “The
vision is for an appointed time.” The appointed time is the best time. God can
see the big picture for our lives. He knows what’s up ahead. He knows what
we’re going to need, who we’re going to need and when they need to show up. If
God did everything we ask on our timetable, it would limit us because
sometimes, what we’re asking for is too small. God knows that the person we
think we can’t live without is not going to be good for us in ten years, so he
is closing the door right now. God knows that if he gave us that promotion we
want so badly right now, it would keep us from the much bigger promotion He has
in store for us three years down the road. God has the advantage of seeing it
all. The longer I live, the more I trust Him. How many times have I looked back
and said, “God, thank you for not answering that prayer. Thank you for not
letting that person into my life.” God knows what He is doing.
What you’re praying about
may be good. It may be a part of your destiny, but it’s not the appointed time.
If there is a right time, that means there is a wrong time. If it hasn’t
happened yet, instead of being frustrated, worried and asking, “God, when is my
business going to grow? God, I’m so lonely. When am I going to meet somebody?”
have a new approach. “God, you know what’s best for me. You can see the big
picture. I’m not going to live frustrated. God, I trust your timing.”
Don’t Expect
It to Happen on Your Timetable
We live in a society that
wants everything right now. We’re being programmed for immediacy. Don’t make me
wait. But the scripture says, “It’s through faith and patience that we inherit
the promises.” It’s easy to have faith. “God, I believe I’m going to accomplish
my dreams. God, I believe I’m going to overcome this obstacle.” We have the
faith part down. Let’s make sure we get the patience part down. “God, I’m not
only going to believe for big things, but I trust your timing. I’m not going to
get discouraged if it doesn’t happen immediately. I’m not going to give up
because it’s taken a week, a month, or five years. I know the set time is
already in my future, so I’m going to wait faith and patience because I know
that it’s on the way.”
Sometimes we pray, “God,
give me this promise right now. I’m uncomfortable. These people aren’t treating
me right. Business is slow.” What we can’t see is that something is not ready.
Maybe it’s another person who’s going to be involved. God is still working on
them. Maybe it’s another situation that’s going to be part of your destiny.
It’s not in place yet. Or maybe God is doing a work in you, developing your
character, growing you stronger in that process.
The scripture says, “God
didn’t take the Israelites the shortest route to the promised land, because He
knew they were not prepared for war.” God could see the big picture. He knew
that if He took them the shortest way, their enemies would be too powerful and
they would be defeated. So on purpose, God took them a longer route to protect
them and to strengthen them so that they could fulfill their destiny.
If something is not
happening on your timetable, remind yourself, “God knows what He is doing. He
has best interests at heart. I wouldn’t be having this delay unless God had a
very good reason for it.” And while you’re waiting, don’t make the mistake of
trying to figure everything out. “God, I’ve been praying for my child for three
years. Why won’t he change? If you’re constantly trying to figure things out,
that’s only going to frustrate you. Turn it over to God. Say with David, “God,
my times are in your hands. I’m not going to worry about why something hasn’t
happened or why it’s taking so long. God, I trust you. I know at the set time
everything you promised me will come to pass.
Be still and
know
This principle is
especially important when we’re facing challenges. If you get a negative
medical report, if you lose your biggest client at the office, or if somebody
at work is talking behind your back and trying to make you look bad, it’s easy
to get all wrought up and think, I have
to get in there and straighten things out. I’m going to fix that person. I have
to get a second job. I’ll never make it without that client.
So often we think we have
to do it only in our own strength. This is when many people make quick
decisions that end up only making matters worse. The scripture says, “Be still
and know that I am God.” When you feel overwhelmed and you’re tempted to take
everything into your own hands, you have to make yourself be still. The battle
is not yours. The battle is the Lord’s. but as long as you’re fighting it,
trying to make it happen your way, trying to pay somebody back, upset, worried,
then God is going to step back and let you do it your own. But when you take it
out of your hands and say, “God, I trust you. I know you have already set the
time to bring me out. You’ve already set the time to vindicate me. You’ve set
the time to bring healing and peace. So I’m going to be still and know that
you’re God,” that’s when God will fight your battles.
This is what the Israelites
did. They were surrounded by huge army and greatly outnumbered. They were so
worried and stressed out. They were getting their equipment on, trying to come
up with some type of strategy to fight off the enemy. Just before they went to
battle, they decided to pray. God said to them, “Be still and you will see the
deliverance of the lord. For the lord will fight for you, if you remain at rest.
Notice the condition. God
will turn it around. God will restore you. God will vindicate you, if you will
be still and remain at rest. In other words, if you will wait for the set
time, if you will be patient and not give birth to Ishmaels, then God has
Isaacs in your future.
Maybe you’re facing a big
challenge. You can’t sleep well at night. You’re upset and frustrated. God is
saying to you what He said to them, “Be still I have it all figured out. I
control the whole universe. I’ve already set the time to deliver you. I’ve
already set time not only to bring you out but to bring you out better off than
you were before.”
Now do your part and rest.
Trust God’s timing. God knows what is doing. We may not understand why
something is taking so long but sometimes God will delay an answer on purpose
simply so He can show His power in a greater way.
Everything
promised will come to pass
Your situation may be
taking longer than you thought. Maybe it’s something more difficult than you’re
ever experienced. That doesn’t mean that the enemy is getting the best of you.
It doesn’t mean that God went on vacation and is not concerned anymore. Don’t
feel worried because when God brings you out, everybody around you is going to
have no doubt that the God you serve is an awesome God.
Friend, there are set times in your future. Quit worrying about when
it’s going to happen. God can see the big picture. He knows what’s best for
you. Dare to say with David, “God, my times are in your hand.” When you do
this, it takes all the pressure off. You don’t have to struggle and try to
force things to happen. You know God has it all figures out. So you can relax
and enjoy your life while you’re waiting for the promises to come to pass.
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