What If I REALLY Trusted God’s timing?

Have you ever said, “God’s timing is perfect”—but then caught yourself spiraling in frustration or fear when things didn’t go your way?

Me too.

We say it. We sing it. But do we actually believe it?

Let me ask you something I’ve been asking myself lately:

What would change if I actually believed God’s timing is perfect?

Not just the kind of belief that sits on a coffee mug or shows up in our Instagram captions...
But the kind that shapes our thoughts.
Our decisions.
Our attitudes when we feel behind, overlooked, or delayed.

I recently posted an Instagram reel with that question, and several women responded.
One said it was “deeply convicting.”
Another said her thoughts would be “very different.”
Another said, “Mine would be peaceful.”

That got me thinking.

What are we TRULY questioning when we are upset with God's timing?

I came up with 8 possible questions. The wording that pops into your mind might be different, but if you read these with the openness to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, you might cringe as much as me when I started really thinking about this:

1. Questioning His love

"If You really loved me, wouldn’t You have come through by now?"
​ When we’re stuck in waiting, it can feel like God’s delay means a lack of care. We may equate His timing with His affection and wonder if we’ve been overlooked or abandoned.
Truth: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
His love was settled at the cross—our circumstances don’t undo that.

2. Questioning His capability or wisdom

"God, are You sure You know what You’re doing?"
​ Sometimes we assume we know what’s best and doubt God’s ability to get it “right.” But our view is limited—His is eternal.
Truth: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)
God doesn’t just know better—He knows perfectly.

3. Questioning His attention

"Are You even aware of what's happening down here?"
​ This can feel like: “Maybe He’s forgotten about me,” or “Maybe my situation is too small (or too messy) for Him to care.”

Truth: “He who watches over you will not slumber.” (Psalm 121:3)

4. Doubting if God values us

"Maybe I’m not good enough to deserve an answered prayer.”
​ Sometimes we assume God's delay is punishment or disapproval, rather than redirection or preparation.

Truth: God's love and timing are rooted in grace, not performance.

5. Assuming He’s withholding good things

"Is God keeping something from me that I really need?"
​ This echoes the Garden of Eden temptation—“Did God really say...?”—and it suggests we think we know better what would be good.

Truth: “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11)

6. Fear of missing out or falling behind

"If this doesn’t happen soon, it’ll be too late.”
​ We worry that our window of opportunity is closing, as if God's hands are tied by our timelines.

Truth: God is not late. He’s not even slow. He’s eternal.

7. Mistrusting the process of waiting

"Why does it have to be so hard, or take so long?"
​ We may question whether anything worthwhile can actually come from the pain, confusion, or waiting season.

Truth: “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength…” (Isaiah 40:31)

8. Believing He’s given this gift to others but not you

"Why did she get her answer, but I’m still waiting?"
​ This can reveal comparison, jealousy, or a misunderstanding of how personal and purposeful God's timing is.

Truth: God’s plans are tailor-made—He's not doing copy-paste miracles.

Does any of this sound familiar? Eve comes to mind right now. I think she was thinking #1,5,6, and 8 to eat the fruit. Look where that got us…

Let’s run through a few other Biblical examples (with disastrous consequences!) of what happens if we don’t wait:

~ Abraham and Sarah – Rushing God’s Promise (Genesis 16)
​ God promised Abraham and Sarah a son, but when the wait felt too long, Sarah told Abraham to sleep with her servant Hagar. Hagar conceived Ishmael, and though God blessed Ishmael, this act of impatience brought jealousy, strife, and division into their family that still exists TODAY.
Lesson: God’s promises require God’s timing. Taking shortcuts can create long-term heartache.

~ King Saul – Offering the Sacrifice Himself (1 Samuel 13:8–14)​
Saul was told to wait for the prophet Samuel to offer a sacrifice before battle, but he grew impatient and did it himself. As a result, God rejected Saul’s kingship.
Lesson: Impatience with God’s timing can cost us what He intended to give us!!

~ The Israelites – Demanding a King Too Soon (1 Samuel 8)
​ The Israelites grew tired of being led by judges and wanted to be like the other nations, so they demanded a king—now. God allowed it, but warned them of the consequences. Their first king, Saul, was ultimately a disappointment.
Lesson: Sometimes God will let us have what we demand, even if it’s not what’s best.

~ The Prodigal Son – Asking for His Inheritance Early (Luke 15:11–32)
​ The younger son asked for his inheritance before it was time, then squandered it in reckless living. Only after hitting rock bottom did he return to the father.
Lesson: Taking what’s meant for later before we’re mature enough to handle it can lead to ruin.

Those are lessons I would not want to learn the hard way!

There was something specific I was waiting for when I started unraveling all of this in my head so in prayer, I asked God,

What if I truly believed Your timing on this was perfect? What would I do? What would that look like?

I’d praise You ahead of time.

I wouldn’t worry about it. I’d REST in the fact it would happen at the perfect time for me.

I’d think that ANY apparent delay was PROTECTION. Not just protection, but perfect protection, that You were orchestrating something better than what I was thinking.

I would wait in calm, faithful expectancy.

I’d still do what I need to do in the meantime but I would have zero anxiety about it.

Our prideful hearts think they know what's best. Oh but they don't!

When I trust His timing, I stop striving and start surrendering.
​ I don’t jump ahead of God.
I don’t make impulsive decisions. I listen for direction.

Instead of forcing doors open, I wait for the ones God unlocks.

And instead of giving up when things don’t go as planned,
I dig in deeper—knowing He’s not wasting ANYTHING because it’s not in His nature.

I can find purpose in His timing.

Instead of asking, Why hasn’t this happened yet? try asking, What is God doing in me here? That shift—from frustration to formation—can unlock the very purpose you’ve been praying to see.

Now let’s recall some of the best biblical examples of waiting on God’s timing—even when it was hard—and seeing beautiful results:

​~ Joseph – Waiting Through Injustice (Genesis 37–50)​
Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused, and thrown into prison for years. But through it all, he remained faithful. In God’s perfect time, he was elevated to second-in-command in Egypt and used to save nations from famine. The result was restoration with his family, widespread impact, and fulfillment of prophetic dreams.
Lesson: God can use years of pain and delay to prepare us for massive influence and healing!

~ David – Waiting to Become King (1 Samuel 16–2 Samuel 5)​
David was anointed king as a teenager but waited over a decade—on the run, hiding from Saul—before he actually wore the crown. He became the greatest king in Israel’s history and a man after God's own heart.
Lesson: The waiting tested and refined his character for the role God had prepared.

~ Hannah – Waiting for a Child (1 Samuel 1)​
Hannah was barren and deeply grieved. She poured out her heart to God and waited with faith. In time, God gave her Samuel, who became a great prophet. She was honored by God, and her son was pivotal in Israel’s spiritual history.
Lesson: God sees every tear, and delay doesn't mean denial.

​
I want to remind you (and myself!) of 3 truths:

God is never late.
He’s not distracted and missing what you need.
He’s not waiting to punish you or watching you suffer needlessly.

Being “late, “distracted,” “unwise,” or “mean” are things that are impossible for God to be.

So, friend, my gentle challenge is this:

Today, pause and ask yourself:

“What would I think, say, and do differently if I truly believed God’s timing is perfect?”

Then… live like it’s true.

Because it is. 💙

In passionate purpose,
​Dorothy