Letting Go and Trusting God's Perfect Timing
There was a time when I had my whole life mapped out. At 22, I would graduate from college—check, I did that. By 23, I’d get engaged—check, that happened too. But then, I had planned to be married and obtain my master’s degree by 25, and by 28, I saw myself becoming a first-time mom. Well, as the years passed, those milestones didn’t unfold as I had envisioned. It left me feeling lost and frustrated. I was caught in a whirlwind of expectations, trying to manage everything on my terms, wondering why things weren’t happening the way I thought they should.
It took me a while to realize that God’s plans are far greater than mine, and His timing is always perfect.
Be Still and Know (Psalm 46:10)
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This verse has been my lifeline during moments when I’ve felt overwhelmed by personal timelines or societal pressures. We live in a world that constantly pushes us to achieve, succeed, and meet certain expectations by specific ages. It’s easy to get wrapped up in striving for what we think should happen next, but God calls us to be still—not to stop working, but to stop worrying and trust in Him.
In those moments where I questioned why things weren’t aligning with my plan, I had to remember that God’s timing is different from ours. He sees the bigger picture, and when we let go of the need to orchestrate everything, we can fully rest in His sovereignty.
Learning to Surrender
For a long time, I planned my life according to these age milestones. I had checked a couple of boxes—graduated from college at 22 and got engaged at 23. But when I didn’t meet my 25-year-old goal of being married with a master’s degree, and as 28 approached without a child in sight, I struggled with feeling like I was falling behind. It was a hard realization, but one that taught me the beauty of surrender.
Surrender isn’t about giving up on dreams, but rather giving them over to God. I’ve learned to let go of the pressure to control every detail of my future. The more I trust in His plan, the more peace I experience. And when I look back, I can see how God’s timing has always been perfect. The waiting seasons have been filled with purpose, and God’s plans for my life are better than anything I could have crafted on my own.
Walking by Faith, Not by Sight
There are so many moments in life when things don’t seem to make sense. When I look at my circumstances, it can be hard to see how God is working. But walking by faith means trusting that God is orchestrating every detail, even when I can’t see the full picture.
I’ve experienced this countless times. When things didn’t go according to my plan, I later realized they were working out for my good. What seemed like a delay was actually preparation. God has a way of using what feels like setbacks to set the stage for something far greater. Trusting Him doesn’t mean we’ll always understand the process, but it does mean we can have peace, knowing He’s working behind the scenes.
Practical Tips for Trusting God’s Timing
Daily Surrender: Starting my day with prayer and scripture has been crucial for letting go of control. It’s a reminder that I don’t have to carry the weight of figuring everything out. Inviting God into my plans means knowing He may redirect them for my good.
Journaling: Writing down my prayers and reflecting on how God answers them, often in ways I didn’t expect, has been a powerful tool. It’s amazing to look back and see how His timing was perfect, even when I didn’t understand it in the moment.
Community: Surrounding myself with a faith-filled community, like my Bible study group, has been so important. We encourage each other to lean on God, and it’s comforting to know I’m not walking this journey alone. Having people who remind you of God’s faithfulness is a gift.
If you’re in a season of waiting or wondering why life doesn’t look the way you imagined, I want to encourage you to embrace the process and trust God’s timing. He sees the bigger picture. While we may feel the need to rush, God is never late. His timing is always perfect, and when we surrender our plans to Him, He leads us into a life far greater than anything we could have dreamed of.
So, let go. Be still. Trust that God is working everything together for your good, and know that His timing is always worth the wait.
