As adults, we are often in the thick of life’s demands: family responsibilities, career goals, health concerns, and personal aspirations. We live in a world that thrives on speed, instant results, and immediate gratification. Our schedules are packed, our lives are busy, and our plans seem to demand that things happen now.
In the midst of this, we often wonder: Where is God in all of this? Why does He seem to take so long to answer our prayers or fulfill His promises?
The apostle Peter addresses this very tension in his second letter to the infant Christian Church: “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.” 2 Peter 3:8-10 NLT
In a world that measures time by minutes and years, Peter reminds us that God’s perspective is vastly different. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day” (v. 8). This verse echoes Psalm 90:4 and calls us to adjust our understanding of time. What seems like a delay from our human point of view is actually part of God's eternal plan.
God is not bound by time in the way we are. His understanding is infinite, His timing perfect. He is not slow in keeping His promises, as some might think, but rather He is patient, desiring that all come to repentance (v. 9). His delay in Christ’s return is not a sign of neglect or indifference, but an act of grace. He is giving people time to turn to Him, to be reconciled through Christ. Notice that His goal is that none of his creation should perish or be destroyed.
Peter’s words challenge us to trust in God’s will, especially when it doesn’t align with our own sense of urgency or expectation. God's will is not a simple matter of "what we want" or "what we think should happen." Instead, His will is rooted in His love, justice, and mercy, and it unfolds according to His perfect plan.
Here are three key truths about God’s will that we can hold onto:
1 God's Will is Always Good, Even When We Don’t Understand It
Sometimes, it feels like God's will for our lives doesn’t make sense. We may be waiting for a breakthrough in our career, a resolution to a difficult relationship, or an answer to our prayers for healing or provision. It’s easy to wonder if God is “slow” or if He’s forgotten about us. But in these moments, we must remind ourselves that His will is always good. In Romans 8:28, Paul assures us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” [NIV] Even when it’s hard, we can trust that God’s will is at work behind the scenes, shaping us and preparing us for something greater than we can currently see.
**2 God’s Patience Reflects His Desire for All to Come to Repentance**
In verse 9, Peter tells us that God is not wanting anyone to perish, but for everyone to come to repentance. This is a powerful reminder that God’s will isn’t just about fulfilling our personal desires or agendas, but about offering grace and salvation to a world in need. Sometimes, God’s “delay” in answering prayers or fulfilling promises may be because He is at work in someone else’s life, calling them to Himself. Our waiting may have a purpose beyond our own understanding, as part of God’s bigger plan to reach and restore the world.3 God's Will Will Be Fulfilled in His Perfect Timing
While we may not always see or understand it, God’s will is being fulfilled in His perfect timing. The passage reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief” (v. 10), an unexpected moment when Christ will return, and all things will be made new. The promise of His return, though delayed in our eyes, is certain. Just as God has fulfilled every promise in Scripture, He will fulfill the promise of Christ’s return in His time. It’s a reminder that nothing in God’s Great Game Plan is ever delayed or thwarted; it is unfolding exactly as He has ordained.What should be our attitude to God’s timetable?
• **We should Trust His Timing**: When we feel like things aren’t happening fast enough, we are invited to trust God’s perfect timing. His perspective is different from ours, and while we may want answers today, He is working in ways we can’t yet see. Trusting God’s will requires patience, but it also brings peace, knowing He is sovereign and good.
• **We should Align our Desires with His Will:** It’s tempting to try to bend God’s will to our own desires. Yet, Scripture calls us to align our hearts with His. Jesus modeled this perfectly in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). When we surrender our will to God’s, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with Him and greater understanding of His purpose for our lives.
• **We should Live with Hope and Expectation**: The promise of Christ’s return gives us hope, even in difficult times. We can live each day with the expectation that God is at work in us and in the world. His will is being accomplished, and while we may not see the final results now, we know that all things will be made right when He returns.Let’s not be “second-guessers” of God’s timing, or try to force His plan to adapt to ours, but rest assured that He created us to be part of his glory.
Always remember: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black
P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://www.salvationarmyconcordca.org/chronicle/?category=Bible%20Study