How many of you have something in your life right now that seems to be taking longer than it should, considering God’s power? Or how many of you feel as if God might be telling you “no”? It’s possible. In the Bible, King David wanted to build a temple for God. Who would be better suited? He had written so many of the psalms—why not also construct the house that would hold the songs he composed for God?
But David wasn’t chosen to build the temple. At first, a prophet told him to proceed, saying it sounded like a good idea. Then God intervened. The prophet had to return and tell David, “I thought God would approve, but I was wrong. God didn’t say ‘no,’ but He did say, ‘not you.’” Instead, God told David that his son, Solomon, would carry out the task. God explained that David had too much blood on his hands. Even so, David spent the rest of his life gathering materials for a project he knew he wouldn’t personally see completed.
It’s not always easy to hear “not you” or “not yet.” Sometimes God’s delays are purposeful, teaching us patience and dependence on Him. Jesus, after all, is both Savior and teacher. He understands the importance of pacing. Just as a good guitar instructor slows down to show the exact steps, God often slows things down to help us learn. Asking God to teach us patience or love often leads to situations where we need to practice those virtues, step by step.
We may want things to happen immediately—much like the wine at the wedding in Cana, where Mary informed Jesus, “They have no wine.” Jesus didn’t produce wine instantly. He worked a miracle on His own timing, not when it was merely convenient for others. In the same way, God’s timing in our lives isn’t always about making things easy or fast; it’s about teaching us, refining us, and showing us something greater. When we face delays, it may not be because God is unable or unwilling; rather, it’s because He’s leading us through a process we need to experience.
