How to Discover God’s Timing for Your Life

Photo Credit: Delphine Wild Flickr via Compfight cc

Have you ever wondered about God’s timing? Have you ever prayed and been disappointed because God didn’t show up right then? Would you like to be sure that God’s timing is perfect?

The Bible is the story of God’s interaction with his highest creation – us. It is full of events that testify to his perfect timing. It’s easy to see as we look back but not so easy in our daily lives.

Let’s take a look at a passage about God’s timing and how it still speaks to us today.

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir. (Galatians 4:4-7)

The time had fully come!

Jesus came at the right time. God understood the culture of the day and the traditions of the time. He knew the prevailing laws and saw the attitudes and hearts. Not just that but the logistics that existed for the spread of the gospel were just right. The Roman empire had road systems, a common language and widespread commerce and transportation.

Jesus came

This scripture opens the reality that because Jesus is God’s son he is divine in nature. But he was also born of a woman and human in nature. He was born under the law of Moses – what we call the Old Testament or old covenant. He was a citizen of God’s chosen people. His mission was one of redemption – to overcome sin and to fulfill the law.

We have been adopted

When you give your life to God and begin to follow Jesus you are not a slave to a system but God’s child! You have a permanent place in the family of God and privileges as a son or daughter. In a work that only God can do, you are inhabited by the Spirit of Christ.

We have a Father. This is a legal relationship. We are heirs of his fortune. When we understand and begin to comprehend who our Father is, we hold him in highest esteem and awe. We are humbled by his grace and then grow to understand our responsibility as sons and daughters (more on this later).

We have an Abba. The Bible uses this term for Father. It is the Aramaic for daddy. This tells us that our relationship with him is one of familiarity and closeness. We share everything. We have someone who protects and guards us. I was blessed to have good dad. Not everyone has had this blessing but our heavenly dad is perfect. We have someone we look up to and admire and someone whose voice we love to hear.

God’s Perfect Timing – Today

God is still omniscient (all-knowing). His timing is for you and for now. No one is too old or too young. Whether you have two years left or 82 years left he wants you to be part of his eternal story.

This requires a response.

Your response to this new reality comes in four steps:

1. You must settle the question. Without reservation you must say yes to Jesus. This is a nothing held back commitment.
2. You must ask, what’s next. You may have to wait for an answer. Waiting is okay. Remember, you are embracing God’s perfect timing for your life.
3. As a son or daughter, accept your privileges. You are a child of God and have access to the Father – a daddy that is perfect and trustworthy. You are an heir. Remember what Jesus reminded us in the parable of the prodigal son. After the irresponsible but repentant younger son came home, the elder brother was angry at the excessive celebration that was given. The gracious father reminded his son: ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.’ (Luke 15:31)
4. You must also accept your responsibility. Start with these four simple things: love God, honor God through obedience, share the love of God with others and live a life that looks like Jesus.

When we do these four things we begin to comprehend God’s will and timing in a new way and appreciate how profoundly perfect they are!