God’s perfect timing
by Janette Lange
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[Saul] waited seven days, the time appointed by Samuel, but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people began to slip away from Saul (1 Samuel 13:8).
Read 1 Samuel 13:5–14
It can be so hard to wait, can’t it? A few years ago, I knew it was time to move on from my job. But as much as I prayed and looked for the next step, nothing seemed the right thing to go to. In the end, it took almost two years of waiting until the next step became clear. And when it did, I was surprised because it involved a whole change of career. It was definitely the right move, but the waiting part was hard.
What are you earnestly waiting for? A new job or retirement? A marriage partner or children? Loved ones to come to faith? Enough rain to break the drought? A release from suffering? Whatever that might be for you, I know the waiting can undoubtedly be a challenging time.
So, I have some sympathy for Saul in our reading today. He was in a very difficult situation. A multitude of Philistines was bearing down on him and his people, and they were deserting him in droves. His troops were scared, too. Some were hiding, others were fleeing across the border, and even those who were still with him were trembling. Saul was meant to wait for Samuel to arrive to offer the sacrifice to God. But when Samuel seemed to take too long, Saul took things into his own hands and offered the sacrifice himself. He wanted God’s favour (good!) but tried to force God’s hand, instead of waiting (bad!).
It is hard to wait, particularly when we don’t know how long the wait will be. Like Saul, we can be tempted to try to ‘help’ God along so that he meets our timeline. But God calls us to trust in him and his timing. We know that God loves us and only wants what is best for us. We can rely on him to have the perfect timing for us and for all things. As we bring everything to God in prayer and wait on him, God can use that time to strengthen and deepen our faith in him.
Although the waiting is hard, be assured that God is with you and hears you. He will respond with perfect timing, perhaps even in a way you never imagined.
Heavenly Father, we’re not good at waiting. Please help us to trust you and your perfect timing for our lives. Give us patience and strengthen our faith, so that we live lives of expectant joy until the day we finally see you face to face. Amen.
Janette is a member of Glynde Zion congregation, a vibrant multicultural faith community in suburban Adelaide. She works as an archivist and translator of German historical documents. In her free time, Janette enjoys reading, solving cryptic crosswords, learning languages, travelling, researching family history and relaxing in her garden. Thanks to her husband’s influence, she now enjoys watching Formula 1 and golf.
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