God’s purpose for His children is that we would grow
in righteousness and faith.
This fall, I am entering my tenth ministry season as Women’s Ministry Director at Redemption Bible Chapel. In my early 20s, I felt God’s quiet nudge to pursue vocational ministry. At the time, I didn’t know what that looked like. A few years later, I was married and working in student ministry at Heritage College, a door God graciously opened in answer to my prayers. So when I became divorced at the age of forty-one, I not only grieved the loss of my family, but also the opportunities God had given along the way.
As a single mom, God provided a great job where I worked for over a decade. Yet as time passed, the quiet nudge returned, sometimes more as a persistent tug. At times, the discontent became overwhelming. Amid more life changes, I pursued my seminary degree, served in my local church, and kept on praying. I had no idea what was to come, but thirteen years later, God opened another door and I joined my church staff.
Over and over, God has taught me that His timeline is not the same as mine. And that’s a good thing.
In Habakkuk 2:3-4 we read, For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay. Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
The context of this book is dark. After spiritual revival under Josiah, the king’s death spiralled Judah into spiritual apathy, moral decline, and political unrest. Frustrated and confused, the prophet Habakkuk lamented to God on behalf of his nation. God revealed that He would bring divine discipline through oppression by the Babylonians.
At the same time, divine justice would bring complete destruction of the Babylonian empire. God’s purposes and promises for Judah would not fail, although His timeline was not what Habakkuk desired. In fact, Habakkuk would not see this justice for Judah in his lifetime. Even more so, the New Testament writers understood the “appointed time” as God’s ultimate and final judgement. The author of Hebrews reiterated, Yet a little while, and the coming one will come and will not delay; but my righteous one shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:37).
It’s natural to crave clarity and relief. We look for specific outcomes to our situations and particular answers to our prayers. We struggle to understand why God is not acting when our desires seem good. We may even wonder if God has forgotten us while others appear to be getting on with their lives.
Habakkuk’s message tells us that God always has a specific plan. His purpose for His children is growing in righteousness and faith. So often, this means a different timeline than our own as God teaches us to rest in Him and prepares us for what’s ahead. That’s why waiting in hope is not passive. It means abiding in Christ as we deepen our faith. It means serving where He has put us. It means doing the next right thing without rushing ahead.
God is doing something bigger . . . we can walk forward even with trembling faith. Taylor Turkington
I’m still praying that God will move in my life in particular ways. I have unanswered prayers and unfulfilled hopes. Yet even if the Lord has other plans, I can trust His ways amid uncertainty and disappointment. He has never failed to be faithful, loving and kind through every season.
So, for today, keep abiding. Keep serving. Keep walking.
Keep trusting in the “pauses,” knowing God alone will meet every longing and satisfy every need.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4
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