Being guided by God’s timing is very significant in our lives. Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. [1] Sometimes, I have tried to rush ahead of God’s plans only to learn the importance of waiting on His timing.
Perhaps you are waiting for God to open a door for a new job, healing from a medical problem, praying someone would come to faith, or another significant event in your life. Meanwhile, what do we do when we are waiting? As we wait on God’s timing, we can continue to be engaged in His word and prayer. Waiting on God can be an excellent bridge leading us to a closer relationship.
Noah Waited on God’s Timing
As Noah prepared to leave the ark, he had to wait until it was safe after the flood. How would he know when it was safe? The solution was the birds that were on the ark. At first, Noah sent out a raven. Genesis 8: 8 He also released a dove to see if the water had receded and it could find dry ground. 9 But the dove could find no place to land because the water still covered the ground. So it returned to the boat, and Noah held out his hand and drew the dove back inside.[2]
In life, we would often like to speed things up, but God is always on time. Noah patiently waited between sending out the birds and did not rush the process. As we seek the Lord’s direction in life, it is sometimes helpful to test the waters and explore a new direction or situation cautiously. Genesis 8: 10 After waiting another seven days, Noah released the dove again. 11 This time the dove returned to him in the evening with a fresh olive leaf in its beak. Then Noah knew that the floodwaters were almost gone. [3]
The Olive Branch Was a Sign of Hope
As the dove returned with an olive branch, Noah knew their waiting time was almost over. The olive branch is a beautiful picture of peace, hope, and a new beginning. Ultimately, we need to trust in God’s timing. Even when we feel ready or impatient, we must wait for His clear direction. He knows what is best and when the time is right.
The next time Noah sent out the dove, it did not return, and his waiting was almost over. Our Lord causes things in our lives to happen at the right time! Our job is not to figure out when but to set our hearts on waiting for His timing. The more we look to Jesus and trust in Him, the more we see His perfect timing in our lives. Take the Lord’s hand and rest in His timing.
To learn how to be guided by God’s timing, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/navigating-the-floods-of-life
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
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