“He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time.”
I heard this statement for many years before I understood what the older saints meant. It wasn’t until my own personal experiences with God’s timing that I could make this same definitive declaration.
Do you know that our concept of time is irrelevant to God? He is eternal—no beginning and no ending! Even the thought that man can control time relative to God’s Sovereignty hinges on arrogance. Consider this definition of time: The continuum of experience in which events pass from the future through the present to the past. In essence, time is really for man’s benefit.
One such benefit is it gives us a point of reference for the realization of events and experiences in life. For example, I was born November 7, 19--, at 1:10 p.m., referred to as my date of birth; however, the specific time is never used. Both the date and time gives a point to the reality of my entrance into the world. This date is only referenced as needed to document age for specific reasons and celebratory events. The truth is we were all in the mind of an Eternal God before we were conceived in our mother’s womb (Jeremiah 1:5); God purposed each of us to enter into the earthly realm at a set (appointed) time so that we would be part of a specific generation and fulfill His purposes. That’s mind baffling!
Another truth is that we cannot fully comprehend timing in relation to God’s Sovereignty—omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence. Therefore, rather than trying to understand it, perhaps we should focus on our faith in response to it. That simply means, believe and expect a demonstration of His power at whatever set time He has purposed to manifest His Presence.
Another example of a set time God chose to reveal Himself is recorded in Isaiah 6:1: “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” In the year King Uzziah died was reference point for the prophet to recall his life-changing experience and encounter with the true and living God. Undoubtedly, like Isaiah, many of you have a point of reference to recall your life-changing encounter with God. Throughout the bible, the perfect timing of God is seen in the lives of people just like you and me. Nevertheless, at some point, the avalanche of emotional experiences cause us to question the timeliness of God’s intervention in our affairs as we petitioned.
However, one passage that confirms God’s perfect timing is recorded in Luke 7:11-16:
"Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. 12 And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. 13 When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” 14 Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” 15 So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother."
Jesus showed up at just the right time! He interrupted the funeral procession of a man being carried out for burial—the only son of his mother, a widow. This death would affect this woman’s family inheritance and her economic situation. She probably felt her life would never be the same. Oh! But the Master showed up on the scene just in time to miraculously change her situation. He saw the piercing pain in her heart that surfaced on her countenance from burying her husband and now her only son. He’d seen that face long before that day and had scripted the scene to show up on stage at the precise time. That day was purposed in Eternity to reveal the glorious power of God in the face of death. It was a point of reference, not only for that mother, but for the village spectators and us today to refer to time the widow’s son was raised from the dead.
This record of God’s perfect timing should encourage all believers who experience the grievous effects of death, whether it’s physical or spiritual death, or the emotional death of dreams, visions, and goals. We must remember that the Lord Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forevermore. His compassions never fail; they are new every morning because He is faithful (Lamentation 3:21-22). The depth of His compassion and unconditional love are most evident by His sacrificial death and glorified resurrection power to secure the salvation of all mankind.
What are you about to bury in the emotional cave of hopelessness? Yes, even as Christians, sometimes it appears as though we can’t take anymore disappointments or hurts. I admonish you don’t give up! Trust Him to show up at the perfect time in our difficult experiences of grief, sorrow and brokenness. He still reveals Himself, comforts us, and rejuvenates us so that we continue in His strength in spite of emotional upheaval in our lives. It was no coincidence that Jesus approached the gate to the village of Nain just as the funeral procession was coming out the gate. Think about it! What perfect timing!
As you face the continuum of life experiences, keep praying and believing God will show up and reveal Himself to you. Then you too will be able to declare with certainty, “He may not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time.” God has perfect timing!
© 2013, 2019 Queen E. Phillips. All rights reserved. Article originally published in COGIC The Whole Truth magazine, July issue.