To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.
—Ecclesiastes 3:1

Does the proverbial phrase, "Hurry up and wait," hit just a little too close to home? Time is something everyone deals with. God created time, and He has a set time for every event in your life. He has a set and appointed time to raise you up. God holds the clock of your life, and in order to cooperate with Him, you'll have to submit to His timing.

What happens if you are too impatient to wait for God's time? When you are too impatient to wait for the promise of God, you will begin to work things out within your own flesh. When that happens, you often create a mess that you will have to face eventually. Sooner or later, what goes around comes around.

Maybe you have been waiting for that certain job, car, mate, or finances. Just hold on. Your breakthrough has been scheduled before time. God knows how old you are. He knows how long and how intensely you've been waiting. He will place you at the right place at the right time to meet the right person to open the right door. Do not try to force what God has set for that "certain" time. Rest assured, God is setting you up for your scheduled date with destiny.

Waiting upon the Lord's timing requires trust and humility. The Hebrew word for wait means "to wait with hopeful expectancy." I think of this as trusting with unlimited confidence. If God has promised you something, you can be sure you will have it. He is not like the people you meet every day who talk big but have short memories. God is faithful to fulfill every promise He gives to us. There may be a waiting period, but it will come to pass.

Trusting God demands humility—because you must put aside all of your pride and your own agenda and simply rest in God. The apostle Peter, who wasn't exactly known for his patience, said that we need to humble ourselves before God that "he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). God has the timing in place, so be patient and go through the process, then God Himself will exalt you!

I believe that many people throw in the towel and quit just before they break through to the promise God has for them. It is through faith and patience that you inherit the promises of God. So hold on—your blessing is on the way; and it may come today.

Related Texts: Numbers 23:19; Psalm 37:7; 62:5; 116:7; 145:15; Isaiah 40:31; Jeremiah 14:22; Hebrews 6:12