God's Timing - Abigail Skelton

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

Old adages like “A penny lost is a penny found” and “No wind blows that doesn’t do someone some good” can inspire us to stay positive for a few moments. But what if this brand of hopeful thinking is true? What if every unexpected twist in our lives is an opportunity to bless others and glorify God while we wait for our turn to find the penny?

God’s sense of timing is incredible. We see this repeatedly in the Scripture. We could argue that the entire Bible is a lesson on God’s impeccable timing. Yet, trusting God with the timing of events in our lives is often an arduous lesson. Especially when situations seem bleak.

The Bible is filled with poetic references to God directing our steps. A couple of examples are “Surely you will count my steps” (Job 14:16 NIV) and “He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:6 NIV). We all make many choices each day, often based on specific people or situations around us. Sometimes, I even amuse myself by contemplating how strange life would be if God’s timing were different. 

If I hadn’t started school the year that I did, I wouldn’t have graduated from college before the pandemic. And if I hadn’t graduated when I did, I wouldn’t have gone overseas to do mission work. And if I hadn’t gone overseas, I wouldn’t have met the people I did. Therefore, my current life would look completely different.

Studying the timing of events in our lives is a great way to remind ourselves of God’s sovereignty. Even trying situations, like a lost job or a reluctant move, lead us into interactions with new coworkers or neighbors who need to hear about the hope we have in Jesus. 

Although unexpected circumstances may not always be pleasant, the ripple effect of our actions is often greater than we think, proving that God is doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. And don’t worry. God stated that he’s not slow in keeping his promises. He will happily orchestrate the timing of our lives in accordance with the grand story he’s writing.

Trust God’s timing. He will never let you down. 

Abigail Skelton is from beautiful Southern Oregon, where she grew up with an avid love for Jesus, chocolate, and writing. She has lived in three countries while involved in missionary work and frequently travels and studies foreign languages. You can connect with Abigail on her website: https://abigailskelton.com.

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