The Perfect Timing

happy december :) a few days ago I asked my wonderful friend Annie if she had any ideas for a blog post. And now here I am writing an entire blog post because I loved her response. [Side note- She has no idea I included this in my blog, but shoutout to her for the sweet questions and insight.] This was her word-for-word response: "As a faithful subscriber to your blog I wanna know either 1) What God is teaching you, 2) What you are thankful for, or 3) What's challenging you these days." First, the answer made me laugh but then I thought about the questions seriously. :) And "timing" popped right into my head. Often I hear from others or find myself quoting the following words- "It just wasn't the right timing." We often all want good things to happen in our lives, but too often we want it now.. not later. I have trouble understanding why something "wasn't the right timing" when it appears to be the perfect timing (in my eyes). This is the outlook I find myself having when I am trusting in myself. Here's the situation though- I don't even know the right timing, let alone the perfect timing. But thankfully God does. 

So here's my answer to not only one, but all three of her questions- 1) God is teaching me to trust in His timing. 2) I am thankful that I don't know the perfect timing or what my life will look like in a few years. 3) Finally, I am challenged to not trust in what I believe is right, but to trust in Him who knows all things and will work all out for my good and His glory. And this is just a little of how the perfect timing has changed my perspective, my understanding, and ultimately my whole life-

In certain situations in the past, I've found myself wishing I could look at my life a year from now and see how a certain "trial" or situation was going to work. However, I've learned how the tendency to want to know exactly how my life will "play out" can be detrimental. God is teaching me the ways I need to leave situations and things alone, and be okay with not knowing the outcome. I first saw this outlook as, "Be okay with not knowing if everything in the end will be okay." But, now I view it as, "Trust God that everything will be okay because His timing is perfect." I'm learning to trust the One that knows all things and accept that I will not always know the answer to questions or outcomes to situations. Trust me, I am so so far from fully understanding how perfect God's timing is. But if I say "yes" to accepting God's timing in this stage of my life, I'm able to rest in the assurance that He will work all things for good. You can say yes to accepting His timing too. 

I've also experienced the sweetness in not knowing the timing of things. Looking back on my life, if I would've known how much longer problems would've taken to work themselves out fully, I probably would've given up much quicker. But thank goodness I didn't know the timing, because the growth and rewards that have come from the challenging times are far more worth it. I didn't know that would be the case at the time though. Our lives would be so drastically different if we were given the answers, if we didn't have challenges, if we knew how each day would begin and end. There is beauty in the unknown. There is beauty in the reward's one will experience from living by faith.

Looking over at other's "paths of life" with jealousy can also be a hinderance to fully trusting in God's perfect timing. Each person has had to walk through the darker, harder times to get to the light. Maybe someone is thriving in the "light" while you find yourself still in the "dark". But don't be discouraged. If anything, seeing the results of those who have trusted God's plan through the dark and now are enjoying treasures in the light should be an encouragement to you. 

I find myself losing sleep over decisions I have to make or situations I need to address. I wonder if the timing is right, that is if the timing in my own eyes seems right. I wouldn't be losing sleep in the first place if I had entrusted these decisions, situations, or issues to God. Learning to understand and accept that I don't know the perfect timing for every situation is sometimes hard to accept. But when I open my eyes and see how God has shaped me throughout my life, I am assured that God is in control. God has the perfect timing. All we have to do is trust in it. 

When God tells us to wait, He does so because of how much He loves us. All things will work for our good and for God's glory. 

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