“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:8-9
Many of us will struggle at times with God’s sense of timing. Why is He so slow to act? Why are things suddenly moving so quickly? When will things get better instead of worse? When will it become clear what God is doing? These questions and frustrations are certainly natural, but they generally reflect our foolishness in applying a human perception of time on the God Who stands astride time itself.
Just as God’s ways aren’t our ways (His are higher and better) and God’s thoughts aren’t our thoughts (His are higher and better), likewise, God’s understanding of time and timing aren’t our understanding of these things (His is higher and better). God sees and knows what’s absolutely best across all of time. Therefore, He is able to act not when we FEEL like He should, but when He KNOWS He should.
Similarly, God’s purpose in acting isn’t generally the same as ours. We usually want God to act on our timetable for our comfort and convenience. That isn’t God’s priority. His priority is the salvation of as many people as possible. God will use extended times of hardship, stress, and sorrow to save people from their deepest problem (sin). Therefore He will work on the timetable that guides the most into repentance. That usually won’t be the timetable we’d prefer. Nonetheless out of faith in God and love for those who need to repent, we must discipline ourselves to be patient and trust the Lord.