Tactical Timing
We typically don’t have a problem with God’s will, we have a problem with His timing. Trusting that God will work “all things together for good” seems easier than trusting God for His immediate timing.
Why don’t things happen soon after we’ve prayed?
Why do things go a strange way after we’ve prayed for safe and easy outcomes?
Why do we have to push through fear in order to get to trust?
One of the Bible’s most quoted scriptures on timing is from the book of Esther. The Jewish orphan was being raised by her uncle, Mordecai. When King Ahasuerus began to look for a new queen to replace Queen Vashti, Esther was selected and entered the palace. When the wicked man Haman began to plot against the Jews with a plan for their destruction, Esther’s uncle appeals to her position as Queen by stating the famous line, “Who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
Later in the story there’s an even more dramatic moment that shows God’s tactical timing. After learning about the plot to destroy the Jews, Queen Esther risks her life to obtain a meeting with the King. She invites the King and Haman to the meeting, but instead of blurting out the whole ordeal that first night, she requests a second meeting, sharing nothing about the pain and fear the Jews were experiencing.
Tactic Timing Tool #1: There’s wisdom in allowing God to prepare a situation so it’s fully ready.
When we try to step in and make things happen or manipulate circumstances by saying too much too soon - we risk missing the way God is trying to let something unfold or develop. That night Haman left the banquet puffed with pride and devised an evil plan for Mordecai spurred on by his wife and friends.
Tactic Timing Tool #2: If you’re tangled in pride and evil intent, don’t expect to get good advice from bad people.
We need to seek truth tellers that are like-minded, leading us to good discernment and decisions. Who we trust and listen to matters.
That same night the King had trouble sleeping and asked for the Book of Chronicles to be read to him. When he realized that Mordecai had averted a plot to take the King’s life, he wanted to honor him. In a strange twist of fate, the following day the King instructed Haman to honor the very man he wanted to kill!
Tactic Timing Tool #3: God uses all circumstances and all kinds of people to bring His plans to fruition.
Even the evil plans of Haman were used by God to bring his purpose and timing. On the second night of the banquet meetings, Esther unveiled the wicked plan of Haman to exterminate the Jews and the King was so furious he had Haman hung on the gallows he prepared for Mordecai.
Tactic Timing #4: Evil will eventually be displayed and known.
God is tactical with His timing. If we rush, hinder, or manipulate situations trying to bring favorable outcomes, we will only dig ourselves deeper into our own mess! Esther could have shriveled in fear and the belief that what she could do wouldn’t truly matter, but she was the key to the whole story as she trusted God’s timing. You’re the key to your story too!
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