Waiting for the Perfect Time

Do you ever feel God nudging you to take action, but when you look at the circumstances, conditions don’t seem favorable for success? As a result, you procrastinate. You postpone. You tell yourself you’re waiting for the perfect time.

I’m a cautious, better-to-be-safe-than-sorry type of person. When I have to make a decision, I explore all options and consider all possibilities. You won’t find impulsiveness or risk-taking in my toolbox.

But sometimes I can be too cautious. Lately, I sense God prompting me to step out in faith, but fear grabs me by the arms and holds me back. The outcome seems uncertain; I don’t know if my efforts will be successful.

If conditions aren’t optimal, does that mean God doesn’t want us to move forward?

This past fall, as I studied the book of Ecclesiastes, some verses in chapter eleven caused me to rethink my hesitation:

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” (Eccl. 11:4 ESV)

If God tells us to plant, we shouldn’t wait until we’re certain no wind will blow away our seed. If he tells us it’s time to reap, we shouldn’t wait for a day with one hundred percent chance of sunshine.

Ecclesiastes tells us we can’t know the future and we won’t understand all of God’s plans. We have to take chances and pursue various opportunities. Some may succeed, some may fail.

 “As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things. Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well. “ (Eccl. 11:4-6 NIV)

What is God prompting you to do?

• Pull up stakes and move?
• Start a new venture?
• Change careers?
• Have that difficult discussion?
• Mend a broken relationship?
• Start a family?
• Write a book?

Is something holding you back?

• Fear keeps us from taking chances. The winds and clouds and the potential of failure intimidate us, so we do nothing.
• Indecision sometimes paralyzes us. We’re not sure we can make the right decision, so we do nothing.
•  Laziness is sometimes the culprit. We simply don’t want to do what God calls us to do. We’re reluctant to face the challenges and do the hard work, so we make excuses.
• Selfishness might be the reason we don’t move forward. Obedience to God is often costly. We wonder if it’s worth the risk. We don’t want to make the sacrifice or pay the price.
• Doubt can creep in. How do we know we’re really hearing from God?

In Discerning the Voice of God, Priscilla Shirer writes, “There’s a time for everything in your life. God alone knows what that is. And because his Spirit dwells within you, and because He is deeply interested in helping you experience the fullness of His plans for your life, you can just stay tuned and know that He’ll make it clear to you right on time, even as He keeps you loved and encouraged by His presence all along the way.”

God will give us the guidance and wisdom we need.  I’ve discovered God usually provides information on a need-to-know basis. God doesn’t promise he’ll submit his entire plan to us, start to finish, subject to our approval. Instead, he simply says things like, “Come and follow me.”

God also doesn’t promise an easy path. Sometimes, roadblocks and failures are part of God’s plan. God sent Moses to Pharaoh with the message, “Let my people go!” But then God added, “Oh, by the way, Moses, I’m going to harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he’s going to refuse.” (Ex. 7:2-5)

This year, I hear God calling me to make a major change. A tornado of doubts swirls around me, and I fear everything familiar is about to be blown away. But if I focus my attention on the wind, I’ll never plant the seeds God’s given me—the ones that will one day ripen into the fruit of good works he prepared beforehand for me to do.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10 ESV)

How about you? Are you watching the wind and waiting for the perfect time? Or are you ready to sow your seed in the morning and in the evening, taking advantage of the opportunities God brings your way?

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (Jas. 1:5-8 ESV)

Margaret Kemp spends most days teaching a classroom full of lively five- and six-year-olds. She’s attracted to be fragrance of vanilla, the printed word, and all things blue and white. She delights in spending time with her husband and family, singing praises with her church choir peeps, and traveling. Her heart’s desire is to know God better and learn to trust him more. You can read more of her writing at MargaretKemp.com.

Photograph © Artem Kovalev, used with permission