When you’re in a hurry God is not.

December is a month when it seems like everyone is in a hurry. It’s easy for us to get caught up in the rush. Christmas concerts. Office parties. Last minute shopping. Suddenly, December’s over and we start the new year…exhausted. Have you noticed that God doesn’t seem to be in a hurry? He may take 40 days or 40 years. In God’s timetable there are no rush orders.

Taking time embraces the providence of God.

Take Moses for instance. Few Old Testament saints measure up to this man. He scores well in  character, leadership, and humility. God and he were on a first name basis. And yet, even Moses didn’t get there overnight. 

Early in his life, he tried to free the Hebrews in a hurry.  He was a born leader and anxious to get to it. In an attempt to speed up God’s timetable, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew. But God wasn’t in a hurry. In fact, he had him spend the 40 years of his life in the desert leading sheep in preparation for leading people.

Taking time allows pride to turn to humility.

God took time with Moses, and we should expect him to take time with us. In Moses’s life, God wanted to to remove the arrogant leadership style that Moses had picked up in  Pharaoh’s household. Forty years of preparatory shepherding wasn’t too short or too long–it was just right. During that time he learned the ways of the desert. He would later spend another forty years of his life in the desert, but leading people not sheep. Two million to be exact! God took time to teach him the ways of the desert. At the same time, he also taught him the ways of humility.

To go from growing up in Pharaoh’s household to the nomadic lifestyle of a shepherd didn’t look like a brilliant career move. But God wanted Moses’ humility more than He needed his ability. He was more interested in Moses’ development than in his immediate accomplishment.

Which brings to mind an interesting thought: Perhaps the reason God isn’t in a hurry is because we are. And character traits like humility will always take time to develop.

PHIL MOSER is the author of the Biblical Strategies series and the developer of 4M Training: a 13-week small group study for men. All of his resources can be found on amazon or at biblicalstrategies.com.

If you’re looking for a resource for your men’s group, consider 4M Training. In 13 weeks you’ll learn to Mature in your faith, Master key habits, Minister to one another, and Mentor the next generation. Click on image below to learn more.