You May Be in a Hurry, but God Is Not

CURRENT TEACHING SERIES The Life You Were Meant To Live

You May Be in a Hurry, but God Is Not By Rick Warren — Oct 6, 2016 “God ... does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NCV). If you want to slow down your life, you’ve got to learn to trust God’s timing. Do you know what impatience is? It’s a lack of trust. When you’re impatient, you’re saying, “God, I don’t really trust you. I don’t think you have my best interest at heart. You don’t know when I need it and I’m in a hurry.” You get worried and you get hurried and you start scurrying because you don’t trust God to do it at the right time and in the right way. You struggle and strive. Is fast always better? Not always. The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “God ... does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing” (NCV). God has a plan for your life. You probably know that. But he also has a timetable for your life. Here’s the rub: God never explains his timetable. Doesn’t that just tick you off sometimes? One of the most painful things in life is when you’re in a hurry and God’s not. When children grow up, part of maturing is having to learn the difference between “no” and “not yet.” A delay is not a denial. As a follower of Jesus Christ, you have to learn the same thing with God: A delay is not a denial. God knows the right time and the right way. He has a plan and a timetable. And his timing is perfect. When Saddleback Church grew for 15 years without a building, this is the verse that God used to encourage me for all those years: “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed” (Habakkuk 2:3 NLT, second edition). That vision that God has given you that hasn’t happened yet, it’s coming. It’s coming on God’s timetable. In the meantime, trust God and slow down. PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick >> Talk It Over What is the vision God has given you that you have been waiting on him to fulfill? What do you think God wants you to do while you wait on him and his timing? Our Gift: Re-Energize Your Life - A Life Change Book In this first-of-its-kind guide, created from Pastor Rick’s most practical teaching, you will learn everything you need to know to re-energize your life the way God intended. LEARN MORE Complete Audio Series (Purchase) Includes six full length teaching CD's from Pastor Rick's series The Life You Were Meant To Live. LEARN MORE Series Summary Message 1: ​​Evicting Envy from Your Heart Message 2: ​​​​​​​​​​Getting Ready to Be Used by God Message 3: ​​Slowing Down Message 4: ​​Building Margin into Your Life Message 5: Remembering What Matters Most Message 6: ​​Lightening Your Load Message 7: Focusing Your Life PLAY TODAY'S BROADCAST

Pastor Rick Warren

Enjoy today's Devotional? Listen instantly to the full radio message at Daily Hope Radio. Did someone forward this devotional to you? Subscribe to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Devotional. This devotional is based on the current Daily Hope radio series at pastorrick.com. Rick Warren has helped people live with hope and on purpose for more than 40 years. He’s the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California and author of several books, including "The Purpose Driven Church" and "The Purpose Driven Life," read by more than 100 million people in 137 languages. He created the PEACE Plan (plant churches of reconciliation, equip servant leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, educate the next generation), which is used by churches in 196 countries. His radio teaching and daily devotional, Daily Hope, is offered across America. This devotional © 2016 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission. You can unsubscribe at any time by changing your e-mail preferences. Update your preferences  |  Unsubscribe