Timing is Everything – Part II by Pastor Doug Neal

2 Then the Lord said to me,
“Write my answer plainly on tablets,
so that a runner can carry the correct message to others.
3 This vision is for a future time.
It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place.
It will not be delayed.Habakkuk2:1-3 (NLT)

Vision is for us to proclaim and for God to bring to pass. He allows us vision to invite us to be a part of what He is doing, not to make us responsible for completing it. Our job is to obey each command step-by-step so that His will be done. He is glorified and all involved can be blessed.

God did not spoeak to Mose from a burning bush and say, “Go and tell Pharaoh to let My people go. You’re anointed, you’re gifted – so go make it happen.” Instead, God walked him through the whole journey step-by-step, plague by plague, miracle by miracle, battle by battle and victory by victory.

We can sometimes become impatient in the process. The process can take so long that we feel that time is running out. But it’s never too late for God to fulfill His promise in our lives. Joseph received a vision from God that took 13 years to come to opass. Along the way it looked like his dream would never come true. But Joseph’s dream was not just about Joseph. When his dream was fulfilled, God worked miraculously to save his whole family from famine and eventually used Joseph to provide food for all the countries of the world!

It is never too late for God to fulfill His promises in our lives. But what should we do in the meanwhile? Here are a few things I believe that we should do:

1. Be faithful. God always reward faithfulness. He also requires it before He will promote us to our next place in Him. Jesus shows this in the parable of the talents. The master says to his servant in Matthew 25:21:(NLT)

21 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

God wants to reward our faithfulness and even wants to celebrate our reward with us.

2. Be thankful. God owes us nothing. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him (James 1:;17). Therefore, instead of being upset about what we don’t have and think we ought to, we need to be thankful to what we have. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus”. Thankfulness produces humility and God gives grace to the humble.

3. Be content. I strongly believe that God’s plans for our lives begin to unfold the minute we become so content with just Him that it no longer matters how, when, or even, if God fulfills them. Paul says in Phil 4:11:

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

Our discontent can lead to us growing angry with God or prematurely trying to make the vision happen on our own. Instead, we need to release the reins of God’s plans and allow Him to work freely to fulfill!

God will be faithful to bring to pass the vision He has for our lives, but it will be in His timing. God will see to it that He is clearly glorified and that those that are involved with bringing His plans to pass can fully and richly be blessed. We simply need to trust God, trust His timing, and let Him direct our paths.

Thank you for this great and (for me) very timely word, Pastor Doug.