Frustration Over God's Timing

God’s timing has always been the most misunderstood aspect of my calling.  It has singlehandedly frustrated and derailed me multiple times over the past ten years.  But I finally learned to wait on Jesus instead of running ahead of Him.  It was not easy.  Or fun.

I served with my husband for over 25 years to help fulfill his calling.  Eventually, I started sensing a “new” calling from God in my life.  I knew I always had an intense passion for teaching God’s Word and contending for the faith, but I knew Jesus wanted me to do more of it.

A few months later, I reluctantly attended a prayer meeting where two strangers unexpectedly prophesied over me.  These men “read my mail” and spoke directly about the things Jesus had placed in my heart to do that I had not shared with any of them.  They proclaimed how God would use my gifts to fulfill my calling and mentioned specific things about “what” and “where.”  But never said, “when.”

I left that meeting on Cloud 9, ready to set these things in motion.  But everything I instituted fell flat and went nowhere repeatedly.  I did not understand why, and it was beyond frustrating and confusing.

After hitting multiple brick walls, I finally surrendered my calling to Jesus and gave Him control of what I was clearly not in control of anyway.

It was a hard few years before I understood God’s timing was every bit as important as the “who, what, where, why, and how” of His calling.  I assumed when God spoke to me, He meant “now.”  But that is not always the case.

When I look back on those frustrating days, I realize Jesus gave me those prophecies to reassure me that my calling was “of Him” and not myself.  He also used them to encourage me with what is coming so I would not lose heart.  But He taught me the importance of not running ahead of Him by allowing me to fail each time I tried.

My encouragement to you is to trust Jesus with the things He has called you to accomplish.  Wait on Him for His timing.  Seek Him diligently as He unfolds the “who, what, where, when, why, and how.”  If He has called you, He will fulfill what He ordained.