How Do You Get on God's Timetable?

A phrase I read caught my eye: “the importance of being on God’s schedule.”* It was referring to David’s running from Saul and the time between when David was anointed king to when he actually became king—in God’s time.

My wheels started turning . . . .

How do you get on God’s timetable?

What is God’s schedule, anyway?

Here are a few Bible verses that address this issue:

God understands time.

• To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end (Ecclesiastes 3:1-11).
• But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5).
• Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand (Revelation 1:3). 

Jesus understood time.

• And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15).
• Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready. Go ye up unto this feast: I go not up yet unto this feast; for my time is not yet full come (John 7:6, 8) 

God’s concept of time is very different from ours.

• But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8).

A man’s life is relatively short, and only God knows how long it will be.

• Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away (James 4:14).
• Is there not an appointed time to man upon earth? are not his days also like the days of an hireling? (James 7:1)
• For man also knoweth not his time (Ecclesiastes 9:12a).

One day, there will be no more time.

• And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer (Revelation 10:6). 

After reading these verses, are you questioning with me how we can get on God’s schedule?

In the first place, we don’t know what God’s timetable is. We can’t comprehend it. We have a finite idea of time, and God’s time is infinite—in both directions. We don’t have an inside view of the mind of God.

The very familiar verses, Proverbs 3:5-6, provide us with an answer to this dilemma.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;

and lean not unto thine own understanding.

In all thy ways acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

Such a simple concept, and so profound. We live each day—one day at a time—as God leads us. If we live for Him, completely depending on His leadership, we will ultimately be on God’s schedule . . . even if we don’t comprehend it.

Isn’t that wonderful?

We don’t have to know. We only have to trust.

Let’s get on God’s schedule—and stay there.

If you have any stories to tell about living on God’s timetable, please feel free to share them. I’d love to hear from you.

*Quotation from the Bible study book, Made for Fellowship by Reba Bowman, page 51.