Trusting God’s Perfect Timing

Trusting God’s perfect timing reminds us that patience and faith open the door to His promises—because His timing is always right.

“As soon as he had finished offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came … ‘You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD your God.’”—1 Samuel 13:10–13

The prophet Samuel had been very specific. He told King Saul what to do and when to act. But Saul chose to ignore his directions and move forward, making an offering on his own. As soon as the offering was completed, Samuel arrived—precisely when he had promised.

Saul revealed his tendency to reinterpret directions according to his own understanding, proving he couldn’t be trusted.

Timing is important to God. Samuel had given Saul a specific time, a time that was “appointed” (v. 8). This was the same word God used in Leviticus 23 to establish the feasts as His “appointed times” and in Genesis 1 to describe the creation of seasons as God’s appointed times in nature.

The Bible tells us, “For everything there is a season,” specific times to act, and times we are not to act … times to give birth and to die, to plant and uproot, kill and heal, tear down and build up, be silent and speak (Ecclesiastes 3:1–8).

God’s timing always is perfect. He looks for people who will believe Him and act according to His timetable—not like Saul, who made himself the judge of time and lacked the patience to trust in God.

Make sure that you are sensitive to God’s timing. As you wait for His Word to come to pass, don’t give up. Keep trusting. His Word is true and He keeps His promises.

Reflection Question: Where do you need to wait and trust God’s timing right now?