Ever feel like everyone else is moving faster than you? Like they’re getting the jobs, the babies, the blessings—while you’re stuck in a holding pattern? If so, you’re not alone. In this post, I want to talk about trusting the timing of your life and share some very personal stories about my journey to do the same. Many of us struggle with trusting the timing of our lives, especially when it feels like nothing is happening. On the other hand, I feel like things are moving too fast for me. This can also be an issue with trusting life’s timetable.
Regardless of how you feel, I want to encourage you and myself in this blog post.
In this post, I’ll try to share how you and I both can learn to lean into God’s timing, find peace in seasons of waiting, and see the delay not as punishment—but preparation.
Is it an easy process? Heck no, trusting anyone but ourselves rarely is. But it’s a worthwhile effort for the sake of our own peace and sanity.
Why did I rush my life?
If you were anything like me, growing up, I was always trying to rush the aging process. When I was fourteen, I wanted to be sixteen. When I was sixteen, I wanted to be eighteen.
You get the picture.
I had no clue about trusting the timing of my life.
Now that I’m older and my life has transformed tremendously in the last four years, I can see that trusting the timing of your life is essential for your mental health.
What Does “Trusting the Timing of Your Life” Really Mean?
Trusting the timing of your life means releasing the pressure to force things to happen and instead believing that there’s divine order in your delays, detours, and even disappointments.
It’s not about passivity. It’s about purposeful patience.
In the Christian faith, timing is not random—it’s orchestrated by a God who sees the big picture (Ecclesiastes 3:11). He knows what’s best, when it’s best, and why it’s best.
Why is timing so important in life?
Have you heard the saying “timing is everything?”
I have many times. In my experience, I’ve found it to be a true statement.
An example is when my oldest was a baby. I was a young divorced mom, and I wanted to create a good life for him. At that time, I didn’t have a college degree. I believed that having one would allow me to compete for the best job positions and provide a good life for us.
So, I went back to school. A bit intimidated by university, I decided to attend a local community college. My little boy was a young toddler and had just learned to run. He loved running and having me chase him.
Little stinker would often take something I was using and run off with it.
Well, one day I was studying for one of my classes.
Wouldn’t you know it, while I was studying, my little guy decided to abandon the toys that had occupied him on the floor and run over to grab a page from my textbook.
Yes, his chubby little hand darted over to me on the couch, clutched the page I was reading, ripping it and holding it in the air as he joyfully sprinted across the living room. I still laugh at that memory.
This happened enough times that I concluded it was not the right time for me to return to school. Sure, I could have kept going, but I wanted to resume my studies when he could understand what I was doing.
Sure enough, I did return and earn my bachelor’s degree– but he was much older.
Indeed, timing plays a vital and exciting role in shaping our experiences and outcomes!
Knowing this doesn’t make trusting much easier, does it?
Without a doubt, trusting the timing of your life can be incredibly difficult.
Why Is It So Hard to Trust God’s Timing?
We compare our timelines.
Comparison kills trust. We see friends buying houses or launching businesses and wonder, “What am I doing wrong?”
Years ago, I remember scrolling through LinkedIn and seeing a former classmate post her graduation picture after she earned her master’s degree. I hadn’t even started mine and wondered if it was too late for me.
Professionally, I felt stuck and stagnant. I did not like my job or the work I was doing, and I knew I had to change. To be clear, I was not jealous of my dear classmate. I was so happy for her.
The problem is I was not happy with myself!
It’s important to note that my friend was single while I was married. She had no children, and I had two. When I noticed her LinkedIn post, it simply wasn’t the right time for me to pursue my graduate degree.
Some of the hardest times in our lives can be master classes in trusting the timing of your life.
We equate delay with denial.
Sometimes we believe that if something hasn’t happened yet, it won’t happen at all. How stupid, in my opinion. I’ve spent many years of my life feeling this way. Here is what I know now: a delay is not a dead end. It’s often a detour toward something better.
We fear being left behind.
I remember feeling this way many times as a young, single mom.
My strong Christian standards made me unappealing to many men. This meant I often got dumped faster than a hot potato! You can read about that journey in my book “Waiting without Whining.”
Our culture runs fast. Slowing down to trust can feel like falling behind. But remember: God’s pace is not slow—it’s strategic.
Bible Verses About Trusting God’s Timing
Use these to reinforce your faith during difficult seasons:
Habakkuk 2:3 – “For the vision is yet for an appointed time… though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.”
God’s promises have appointments. They are never random.
Psalm 27:14 – “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart.”
Waiting builds strength—not weakness.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
There’s a proper time, and it’s not our time—it’s God’s.
The Benefits of Trusting the Timing of Your Life
1. You reduce stress and anxiety.
Letting go of control helps quiet the mental chaos. A study in Journal of Psychology and Theology shows that spiritual trust correlates with lower stress and increased life satisfaction (Plante & Toth, 2007).
2. You enjoy the present moment.
When you’re not obsessed with the next milestone, you can fully live in today—and notice God’s blessings right now.
3. You cultivate resilience.
Every waiting season strengthens your faith muscles. You learn how to endure, reflect, and hope again.
What to Do When It Feels Like Nothing’s Happening
Keep showing up faithfully.
Sometimes faith means simply getting out of bed, doing the laundry, applying for that next job, or sending that follow-up email.
Find community that gets it.
Surround yourself with women (or mentors) who’ve also had to wait—and came out stronger on the other side.
Story idea:
“When I was single, my mentor told me, ‘Teri, God is not late. He’s building something you can’t see yet.’ That stuck with me, and now I see how right she was.”
Document your prayers and process.
Use a prayer journal to write your fears, hopes, and answers. Later, you’ll see God’s hand all over it.
How to Start Trusting God’s Timing Today
Make a choice daily. Trust is not a one-time deal—it’s a daily surrender.
Pray boldly. Ask for peace in the present and faith for the future.
Meditate on God’s faithfulness. Recall past seasons where God came through—even when it looked like He wouldn’t.
Psst…
Don’t miss out on my inspiring book on Christian journaling! It’s the perfect guide to deepen your faith and enrich your spiritual practice. Grab your copy today and start your transformative journaling journey!
Journal Prompts for Trusting God’s Timing
Do you journal? It has been a lifesaver for me in this season where I am struggling and trusting the timing of your life.
I’ve written about how I journal and the benefits it brings to my spiritual and mental health.
These prompts will help you process your own journeys:
- Where in my life do I feel “behind,” and what does God say about that area?
- When has God’s timing worked out better than mine?
- What spiritual fruit might God be growing in me during this season?
- What does “being ready” look like for what I’m praying for?
- Who in the Bible trusted God’s timing—and how did it work out?
Real-Life Examples of God’s Perfect Timing
Sarah and Abraham (Genesis 21)
Sarah had to wait until old age to have Isaac. It seemed ridiculous, but God fulfilled the promise at the perfect time.
Joseph (Genesis 37–50)
Joseph was thrown in a pit and imprisoned, but later elevated to Pharaoh’s right hand—because of his hardships, not in spite of them.
Personalization idea:
“I used to think the pit meant God was far from me. Now I realize, it was His prep room for the palace.”
3 Lies That Undermine Your Trust in God’s Timing
“If it were meant to happen, it would have by now.”
Truth: Delay does not equal denial.
“Everyone is moving forward but me.”
Truth: You’re not behind. You’re being prepared.
“God forgot about me.”
Truth: Isaiah 49:16 says you are engraved on the palms of His hands.
Trusting the Timing of Your Life in Grief or Loss
Waiting becomes even harder when you’re grieving. You may not even want to think about the future.
But grief has its own rhythm. There is no timeline for healing, but God’s presence is constant.
“After I lost my mom, I couldn’t imagine being joyful again. But slowly, God restored beauty in little things—like sunsets, music, and even morning coffee. He didn’t rush me. He just stayed with me.”
4 Quick Prayers to Trust God’s Timing
“Lord, I feel left behind. Help me believe you haven’t forgotten me.”
“Jesus, teach me to live today without fear of tomorrow.”
“God, I release this situation to You—my timeline, my fear, and my assumptions.”
“Holy Spirit, help me grow while I wait. Let this delay not be wasted.”
Final Thought: Maybe You’re Not Late—You’re Early
If you’re trusting the timing of your life, know this: you’re not late to your calling or your destiny. You might be early to God’s plan. And while He finishes preparing it, He’s preparing you.
Waiting seasons aren’t empty. They are full of shaping, stretching, and sanctifying.
Okay.
What you can do:
- Pin this post if it encouraged you so you can revisit it.
- Share your story in the comments. What are you waiting for—and how are you learning to trust?
- Trust God to guide you through your new season and never give up!
