He Keeps His Promises In His Own Time

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

(2 Peter 3:9)

I have become so used to instant gratification that I think God should answer my prayer as soon as I’ve asked; as if God were some kind of cosmic bellhop. God’s timing is not my timing, but God is never late with an answer. God may say, “I’m not going to give you that, I’m going to give you this because it’s what you need.” Or he may say, “I’m going to give you that, but you have to wait for the right time.” Sometimes, his answer is, “No.” He knows best what I need to sustain my life and to keep me truly happy.

If I’m ever tempted to grumble about getting no response from him, I try to remember and be thankful his judgments aren’t instantaneous either. I slip up every day and fall into sin. I don’t want to, I don’t like to, it’s just my fallen nature. If he disciplined me right after every sinful failing, which would be his right to do, I might more resemble a burnt matchstick by the end of the day. I don’t warrant God’s patience, I deserve his wrath, but he is patient and full of grace.

Jesus promised his disciples that he would return soon. Many believed at that time he was coming back in their lifetimes, but his timing was not their timing. It doesn’t mean he is not coming at all just because he has tarried so long. It does mean that his patience will not last forever. Should you die first or are alive when he does return, if you have not repented of your sinful ways, it will be too late. He has waited this long to give as many as who will, to repent and turn to him, the chance to do so.

God is tolerant of us, slow to anger. He wants everyone to turn from their sin and come to him. My daughter began praying for my salvation when she was a small child. He patiently waited until I was forty-two years old for me to turn to him. Now I pray for the salvation of everyone else I know. If you haven’t yet given your life to Christ, he’s patiently waiting for you too. There is no better Father to turn to when you need one. He stands with his arms wide open waiting for you!

Father God, we praise you with all our hearts as we await the promised return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we wait, we try to be patient, but to us, as temporal beings, it feels like the promise is not going to be fulfilled. We forget the original promise of a Savior came in the Garden right after the fall. That was about four thousand years before Jesus was born. We know you always keep your promises but only in your own time. Since Jesus could have come at any time, we’re thankful that he tarried until we came to our senses, and repented of our sins, and made him the Lord of our lives. Now, Lord, give us a heart like yours for the lost people in our lives. Give us the words to say to them to make them see how much they need a savior just like we did. Never let us prejudge who will hear the truth and who will not. Show us how to share the gospel of Christ with everyone. In his name, we pray. Amen!