The beauty of God's timing.

In the church, we always tell each other, "Just wait for God's timing.  He'll take care of it."  We pray, "Lord, I really want this, but I know you'll give it to me in your own time."  But the whole time we're saying those things, we're crossing our fingers and hoping we're right.  We use "God's timing" as our go-to mantra when things aren't working out the way we think they should.  It's our way of convincing ourselves that we're going to get what we desire and that God doesn't ever tell us no when we ask for something.

When I say we, maybe I really mean me.  I talk about God's timing a lot, even to Him, but rarely do I truly trust in His timing the way I say I do.  If I really trust in Him and know that His timing is perfect, why do I get frustrated when things don't happen now?  Why do I ask Him for the same things over and over again?  Or worse, why do I take matters into my own hands?

God has taught me a lot about faith over the last few years.  Hebrews 11:1 says, "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Sure  and certain--those are strong words.  It doesn't say "pretty sure" or "mostly certain".  My brain usually tends to operate in the pretty and mostly category.  That way I don't get my hopes up and get let down.  Because, see, when I put all my faith and trust in the Father, I don't have anything to fall back on.  There's nothing in my power I can do to make it happen.  If it doesn't work out, I can't fix it.  But here's the thing:  There's no such thing as not working out with God.  Everything He does is intentional.  Every lost job.  Every heartbreak.  Every failure.  He has orchestrated them all perfectly.  His scope goes beyond my immediate desires and what I feel are immediate needs.  His timing takes into account not only my entire life, but the lives of all His children.  That's the beauty of it.  When I think of it that way, I don't have to cross my fingers anymore and hope He'll take care of me.  I can sit back and be entirely sure and completely certain and perhaps even learn something in the process.