January 31 Trust is a Must!

Theme: Trusting God’s Timing and Purpose in Your Life

By: Tamarie Johnson-Williams 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)”

As we embark on this new year, many of us may be reflecting on the desires, goals, and dreams we hold for the future. Perhaps there are things you’ve prayed for, longed for, and worked towards that still haven’t come to fruition. In those moments of waiting, it can be difficult to understand why God's plan is unfolding as it is. But, beloved, trusting God's timing and purpose in our lives requires faith—faith that His ways are higher than ours and His timing is always perfect.

Consider the story of Abraham, whom God promised that he would become the father of many nations. Yet, the fulfillment of this promise did not come immediately. Abraham and Sarah waited many years, and at times, the waiting seemed unbearable. Sarah even tried to take matters into her own hands by giving Abraham her servant, Hagar, but that only led to complications. However, in God's perfect timing, Isaac, the promised son, was born. Abraham had to learn to trust that God’s plan would unfold at the right time.

Similarly, Jacob had a dream from God about his future, a promise of leadership and greatness, but his journey was far from straightforward. He encountered deceit, struggle, and years of hardship before he saw any glimpse of the promise being fulfilled. Yet, through it all, God was with him, shaping him into the man He had called him to be. Like Abraham and Jacob, Joseph also received dreams of greatness in his youth. But before those dreams came to pass, Joseph faced betrayal, imprisonment, and years of waiting. His dreams were realized not when he expected, but when God had prepared him to step into the fulfillment of those dreams.

One of the most powerful examples of trusting God's timing is the story of Hannah. Hannah’s deep longing for a child seemed unanswered for years, and she endured the shame of infertility. Yet, when she surrendered her desire to God and trusted in His plan, He answered her prayers in a way that was beyond her imagination—by giving her Samuel, a prophet who would impact generations to come.

I can personally relate to the tension between trusting God's timing and the impatience of wanting things to happen on my own terms. While completing my undergraduate studies, I faced significant financial challenges that delayed my graduation. I was unable to pay my tuition, and for a long time, I carried a heavy burden of shame. I watched as my peers moved on with their lives, while I felt stuck. I wondered why God allowed such delays and hardships, and I questioned whether I had missed my chance.

But God, in His faithfulness, was orchestrating something far greater than I could have imagined. During this time, I had the opportunity to work as a student assistant in the Behavioral Sciences Department. It was there that I was afforded a scholarship to pursue the Masters degree in Counseling Psychology.

Had I graduated when I initially thought I should have, I would have missed this opportunity entirely. This was no accident. I could never have imagined that the delays I resented so much would eventually lead to a career that has transformed my life and the lives of others.

This experience reinforced the truth of Jeremiah 29:11, that God’s plans for us are good, even when they don't align with our own timeline. Sometimes, God’s purpose takes time to unfold, and in those moments of waiting, He is preparing us for something greater than we could imagine. Like Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Hannah, we are called to trust that God’s plan is unfolding even when we don’t see the full picture.

In her writings, Ellen G. White reminds us, *“God has a plan for us, and it is a plan that we may never fully understand this side of heaven. But if we follow Him step by step, we can be sure that our lives will be rich with purpose and meaning.”* Trusting God’s timing requires surrendering our expectations and resting in the knowledge that He is working everything for our good (Romans 8:28).

As we begin this year, I encourage you to trust God’s perfect timing. If you’re in a season of waiting, know that He is at work behind the scenes, preparing you for what He has planned. His timing is not ours, but it is always perfect. And though the waiting can feel long, the reward that comes when His promises are fulfilled is worth every moment.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise that You know the plans You have for us—plans for good and not for harm. Help us to trust Your timing and Your purpose in our lives, especially when the waiting feels hard. Give us the patience to wait for Your perfect plan to unfold. We surrender our dreams, our desires, and our timelines to You, trusting that You are guiding us step by step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.