Acts 7:8 NLT

“He replied, ‘The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know.’ ”

I struggle with having patience. I always open the microwave before it dings, I coax along the red traffic light, and I seriously hate being late. I feel like I am always in a state of busyness, rushing from one task to the next and never setting aside the time needed to listen and rest.

The Message translation puts the above scripture like this “He told them, ‘You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business.’ ” How often I wish that I could accelerate God’s timing so that it better aligns with my own. The thing is, if that were possible, I would make a mess of things.

2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God isn’t taking His time just for the sake of taking His time. He isn’t dragging the process out, holding out on you or withholding His favor. He knows what is best, and if the promise He made you hasn’t come to pass yet, hold on a little longer.

If a door closes, it’s because God has something better in store. Don’t mistake what can appear to be slow timing for denial or absence. God is always working and turning things around, and I believe that He is doing the same for you today.

Prayer: God, I am thankful that you are Faithful even when I am not. Help me to see beyond what is in front of me. I will lift up my eyes today, to see where my help comes from. Help me to see how You are working, even if it doesn’t look the way I thought it would.