Dealing with Delays
For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. –Habakkuk 2:3
Living in a more metropolitan area, traffic delays can become a frustrating but common part of everyday life. As a self-proclaimed “get-er-done girl” I like to get where I’m going as soon as possible. In fact, in an ideal world I would be able to blink and go instantly from one place to another, like Jeannie on “I Dream of Jeannie”. I’ve found that I am able to minimize my frustration when I simply accept that delays are part of life and there’s no getting around it. I can pull my hair out and get agitated, or I can accept it and keep my peace; either way, traffic is not going to move any faster! It’s much more pleasant to wait in peace.
In the past year or two, God has really helped me understand what it means for Him to be sovereign. God’s sovereignty means He rules and has control over ALL things. I’ve come to truly believe that every single event has a specific time that God planned for it to occur, even before He formed the earth (God’s into details like that). He also doesn’t leave anything to chance, even our choices. I fully believe God knew every choice you and I would make before He formed the earth, and He built his plans around that. He knew Judas would betray Jesus and built His plans around that decision, for example.
With this in mind, I’ve come to also believe that there is no such thing as a “delay” in the Kingdom of God. We may feel as if something in life is being held back or delayed, but actually God’s pre-planned time for that event has not yet come to pass. The simple truth is this: to everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1). There is no such thing as a delay in God’s Kingdom. There is only the perfect time for each detail to occur.
Haven’t been able to conceive the child you expected to have by now? Either God already knows when their birthday will be, or He has even better plans for you which are for a future date.
Haven’t advanced up the ladder in your career like you thought you would? God will shape your career in His time and His way.
Does that dream you’ve hoped for your whole life seem to be always be “someday” instead of “now”? Don’t give up! God laid that dream on your heart for a specific time and season. It will happen when He wants it to happen.
Just like choosing to wait in traffic with peace, we can wait for God’s timing with peace when we accept His sovereignty over ALL things. We must also keep in mind that as members of His Kingdom, our life affects the lives of many others, so God’s perfect timing is essential not only for us, but for those He intends to touch through us. Instead of seeing your wait time as any kind of delay, thank God for His perfect timing and sovereignty and then…relax! Enjoy this ride! We only get to do it once!