Clock vs Calendar: Finding God's Timing

The Divine Operating System. Component #2: Wisdom

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV)

One of the most challenging aspects of walking in wisdom is discerning the right timing for action. In our fast-paced, instant-gratification culture, it’s tempting to rush ahead with our own plans and agendas, assuming that faster is always better. But God’s wisdom often operates on a different timeline, one that requires patience, trust, and sensitivity to His unfolding purposes.

The Bible is full of examples of people who had to learn the difference between God’s timing and their own. Abraham and Sarah grew impatient waiting for the promised son and took matters into their own hands, resulting in painful consequences. Moses tried to deliver his people prematurely and ended up fleeing into the wilderness for forty years. The disciples urged Jesus to establish His Kingdom immediately, not understanding the necessity of His suffering and death.

Learning to discern God’s timing involves cultivating a posture of attentiveness and surrender. It means being willing to wait on the Lord, even when the way forward seems unclear or the delay feels unbearable. It requires a deep trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty, a confidence that His plans are always better than our own.

At the same time, walking in wisdom also means being ready to act when God gives the green light. There are moments when the Holy Spirit prompts us to step out in faith, to take a risk, or to seize a divine opportunity. In these instances, hesitation or disobedience can be just as detrimental as rushing ahead.

[[Note: Excerpted from The Divine Operating System: 16 Vital Components for Optimizing Your Daily Christian Life, a brand new book by Iann Schonken, released in June 2024.]]