When You Question God’s Timing Trust His Love
Why is it that difficult days seem to go on and on while joy-filled days seem to fly by?
That is especially true when those difficult days are the result of God’s discipline—when we are living out the consequences of our own foolish behavior.
Do you remember being sent to time-out as a child? Minutes seemed to crawl at a snail’s pace. So, it’s not surprising that during seasons of discipline, we’re likely to ask, “How much longer”? Yes, we’re inclined to question God’s timing.
That’s the message of Psalm 94. God’s children were in one of those seasons of discipline. God had allowed their enemies to gain power over them and they weren’t having any fun.
They asked…
How long, O Lord?
Psalm 94:3–4
How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat?
How long will they speak with arrogance?
How long will these evil people boast?
While their enemies taunted…
“The Lord isn’t looking,” they say,
Psalm 94:7
“and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.”
But the truth is . . . God cares. His unfailing love lasts forever. Even when He allows us to walk through a season of discipline, He is watching over us with His unfailing love. He is neither deaf nor blind. The One who made us is always with us.
Is He deaf—the one who made your ears?
Psalm 94:9
Is He blind—the one who formed your eyes?
NO!
That’s why it’s important to remember that in all of our difficult seasons, whatever the reason, we can turn to God and trust His love and care.
I cried out, “I am slipping!”
Psalm 94:18–19
but Your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me.
When doubts filled my mind,
Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.
With God’s love uplifting and supporting us, we can live with optimistic hope even as we live through seasons of discipline.
When my parents sent me to bed right after dinner, I’ll admit it didn’t feel like love. But after I had children of my own, I understood that discipline is love. The goal of discipline is to teach the wisdom of trusting and obeying God’s will.
Loving parents don’t want their children to have to struggle through life’s painful consequences and honestly, they don’t want to discipline them. But they will choose discipline to help them learn the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience.
Discipline is love and God’s discipline is proof of His love.
Have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as His children? He said,
Proverbs 3:11–12
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when He corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those He loves,
and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”
When we don’t understand God’s timing and we wonder “how long” His discipline will last . . . we can live with hope and joy because of His promises…
God’s discipline is always good for us so that we might share in His holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
Hebrews 12:10–11
So, let’s pause for a moment to thank God for His timing and love. He is at work transforming us and making us more like Jesus.
Let’s pray…
A Prayer to Trust God’s Timing, Discipline, and Love
Father, I know You allow my discipline to teach me the truth about Your will and draw me close to Your love. But like a stubborn child, I don’t like it, I don’t want it, and I wonder how long it will last. I want what I want and I want it now. Yet, I am continuing to learn that Your will for me is so much better than anything I could want or even imagine.
You want me to live with hope for the beautiful future You have prepared for those who love and trust You. (I Corinthians 2:9) You always want what is best for me. (Proverbs 3:5–6) You want me to live with a transformed heart that trusts and obeys Your will. (Romans 12:2) You want me to be mature in faith. (Ephesians 4:13) And You want me to abundantly share the fruit of Your Spirit. (Galatians 5:22–23)
Oh Lord, I fall so far short of the things that You want for me. Please forgive me. It is no wonder that I need to be influenced by Your loving hand of discipline. I thank you for loving me so fully and faithfully. Please help me love You fully and faithfully in return. You are the perfect parent. You are my Rock and my Hiding Place. You are my strength and shield.
Help me grow in faith that I might fully trust Your timing and Your perfect love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
As we look around and see the Lord allowing nations and individuals to live out the consequential discipline of their choices, you and I can trust His constant and unfailing love.
Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death?
Romans 8:35, 37
No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
Don’t give up or give in. SEEK the LORD and TRUST HIS LOVE!
May God be with you, bless you, and hold you close in His loving arms.
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Yes I have to admit that I do sometimes feel some kind of way when unbelievers seems not to be suffering and I on the other hand pray, prayed, pleaded, beseech God and he seems to be so far away, I know he’s real because of certain situations I’ve been in he is and was my only savior, please pray that he gives me strength to make it through the hurting situations that I’m going through now, “I feel so alone” thank you for your prayers.
Hiram, I am so sorry you feel so all alone. I have felt that way too many times to count. My heart goes out to you and I will be praying that God will send you strength, comfort and healing to help you through your hurtful situation.
“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.”
I’m so sorry you are going through this difficult time, Hiram. We are praying for you and asking the Lord to hold you close, give you a real sense of His loving presence, and give you the strength you need each day. God’s richest blessings!
Sometimes, God’s discipline feels harsh, but it is anything but. May we embrace every move He makes to make us more like Jesus.
Blessings, Deb!
You’re right, Martha! We don’t like it at the time but oh, looking back . . . it always comes from Him love and is for our good! Blessings to you!
Indeed it is difficult to accept discipline when it hurts and it feels like eternity. I remember when I had to discipline my sons when they were little boy it broke my heart. We feel the same way when we have to deal with disciplines as adults. The only way we can coup with the pain of discipline is by asking God to give us patience, wisdom, grace, comfort and trust in him to help us through it. Revelations 3:20 God says
Behold I stand at the door and Knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. We just need to surrender ourselves to him fully to take over our life’s and he will take care of us.
Thank you for the beautiful words and prayers to help us with God’s Timing, discipline, and love.
Prayers and blessings to everyone ????
That’s one of my favorite verses, Ana. My pastor assigned it to me when I was confirmed in my faith at the age of 13. He has spoken to my heart so many times through those words. May He be with you and bless you as you give each day to Him.
This is a wonderful follow up for your previous post, Deb. I know I need the discipline of the Lord in order to come in any way close to being holy. I feel like Psalm 94 is happening currently, and it is hard to watch the sinners gloat. But I know discipline and God’s truth, will be helping me and crying may go on for a night, but joy will come in the morning. We are listening and learning Deb! Thank you for your wisdom and knowledge to help keep us encouraged and on the right track! Have a beautiful week in the strength of our Lord, my beautiful friend.
And a big hello and have a great wk to my dear friends Sue and Ana.
Thank you, Kathy! Yes, we’re focusing on the joy that comes in the morning. His goodness and grace is with us and His discipline always comes from love. We are so blessed to be loved by our perfect Father. May the Lord bless you and hold you close, dear friend!
I love how the Psalms are open and ask honest questions, giving us a pattern to do the same in our prayers. The older I get, the more I understand them and am thankful for how God doesn’t ask us to pretend. He asks us to trust His power and love. So thankful we can talk to Him as we wait for Him to act. Thank you for this reminder!
I love the honesty of the Psalms too, Desiree. His Word shows us our need and God’s faithfulness. His grace, mercy, and love truly do give us everything we need each day. Thanks so much for visiting and for adding these words of encouragement to the conversation. God bless you!