When, God, When?

Learning To Trust In God's Timing

by
Joyce Meyer
Harrison House
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are
taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Scripture quotations marked AMP are taken from The
Amplified Bible, Old Testament copyright 19!, 19"# by
$onder%an &orporation. New Testament copyright 19!",
19"# by the 'ockman (oundation. Used by )ermission.
3rd Printing
Over 66, in Print
!hen, "od, !hen#
learning To Tr$st in "od%s Timing
*SB+ ,-"9.#/-"/-0
&opyright 199/ by 1oyce 2eyer
'ife *n 3he 4ord, *nc.
). 5. Bo6 !!
(enton, 2issouri 7,.
)ublished by 8arrison 8ouse, *nc.
). 5. Bo6 7!,7!
3ulsa, 5klahoma #/1!7
)rinted in the United States of 9merica.
9ll rights reser%ed under *nternational &opyright 'aw.
&ontents and:or co%er may not be reproduced in whole or in
part in any form without the e6pressed written consent of
the )ublisher.
Contents
Foreword....................................................................5
1 Timing and Trust....................................................7
2 Due Season...........................................................11
3 Aointed Time....................................................17
! The Call................................................................1"
5 The Anointing.......................................................23
# The Searation.....................................................31
7 Are $ou Tired o% &aiting'..................................35
( )atien*e, )lease+...................................................!1
" &hen &ill ,- Dream Come True'.....................!5
./erien*ing a 0ew 1i%e..........................................!7
A2out the Author......................................................!"
Foreword
4e ser%e the 9ll-;nowing <od who keeps an
eye on us all the time. <od is ne%er surprised. 8e
knows e%erything before it happens. )salm 179 says
8e knows our thoughts before we think them, and
our yet unuttered words. 2ost of us need to grow in
the area of trust and attempt to silence the big
question=WHEN?
Because that question is a persistent one, * ha%e
written this book to bring some insight that * feel <od
has graciously shared with me. * spent a large part of
my life impatient, frustrated, and disappointed.
3hrough many e6periences, * ha%e learned to trust
the 5ne 4ho knows all.
* pray your spirit will become peaceful as you
rest in 8im, trusting that, in the words of ;ing >a%id,
?your times are in 8is %ery capable hands? @)s. 71A1!,
paraphrasedB.
1
1 Timing and Trust
"I trusted, relied on and was confident
in You, O Lord; I said, You are my God.
"My times are in Your hand; delier
me from the hand of my foes and those
who !ursue me and !ersecute me."
"salm #$%$&,$' AMP
*n this chapter, the )salmist is saying that he
trusted <od to deli%er him, and he trusted 8im to do
it at the right time. 3rust requires us to say, &'( times
are in )o$r hands& @paraphraseB.
* ha%e learned that trust requires us to accept that
some questions will be unanswered and to place our
times in <odCs hands=belie%ing that e%en though we
do not know all the answers, 8e does.
8e has a perfect timing for all things in our li%es.
4e all desire and belie%e for good things to happen
in our li%es, now=not later*
9s we continuously mature in the &hristian life,
we learn to belie%e for things not now, but in <odCs
perfect timing. 8ebrews 11A1 says, ?NOW faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the e%idence of things
+ , !hen, "od, !hen#
not seen.? 4e can always ha%e faith now, but we
cannot always ha%e the manifestation now-
3rusting <od often requires not knowing how
<od is going to accomplish what needs to be done
and not knowing when 8e will do it. 4e always say,
?<od is ne%er late,? but 8e is generally not early
either. 4hyD Because 8e uses those opportunities to
stretch our faith in 8im, and we grow during times of
waiting.
5ne of our partners recently was in need of
financial help from <od in paying some une6pected
ta6es. 3he ta6es were due 9pril 1!. 3he couple ga%e a
special offering to ?'ife *n 3he 4ord? belie%ing <od
for the miracle they needed. 5n 9pril 1/ they had the
money for their ta6es. 4hy not 9pril 1 or !D 4hy
does <od sometimes wait until the %ery last day or
minuteD
3he reason is that 8e is teaching us lessons in
trustE Tr$st is not inherited. it is learned* 4e learn to
trust <od by going through %arious e6periences that
require trust. By seeing <odCs faithfulness o%er and
o%er, we let go of trusting oursel%es, and gradually
we enter <odCs rest and place our trust in 8im.
'ooking at it like this, it is easy to see how timing
plays an important part in learning to trust <od. *f 8e
did e%erything we asked for immediately, we would
Timing and Tr$st , /
ne%er grow and de%elop. 3iming and trust are twins.
3hey work side by side.
2
2 Due Season
'e%iticus .A/ says, ?* will gi%e you rain in d$e
season-& <alatians A9 (AMP) says we must ?... not lose
heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and
doing right, for in due time and at the appointed
season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and rela6
our courage and faint.? 9nd in (irst )eter !A we are
e6horted to ?humble? Foursel%esG ?under the mighty
hand of <od, that in d$e time 8e may e6alt? FusG.
4hen is d$e season or d$e time# * belie%e it is
when <od knows we are ready, when e%eryone else
in%ol%ed is ready and when it fits into <odCs
corporate plan. <od has an indi%idual plan for our
indi%idual li%es, but 8e also has a corporate plan for
the entire world.
* remember a time when * was frustrated because
nothing was happening in my ministry. * knew * was
anointed to teach <odCs 4ord, but absolutely no
doors opened for me. *t seemed * had waited so long.
* felt ready. * had been cooperating with <od. 8e had
done maHor work in me, and * Hust could not
understand why something was not happening. *
remember asking, ?<od, what are Iou waiting for
01 , !hen, "od, !hen#
nowD 9m * not ready yetD? 8e responded by saying,
?Iou are, but some of the others who will be in%ol%ed
with you are not yet ready, and * am still working
some things out in them, so you will ha%e to wait on
them now.?
Iou see, <od does not push, sho%e, demand,
manipulate or force people. 8e leads, guides,
prompts and suggests. *t is the responsibility of each
person to gi%e his or her will o%er to 8im for 8is
purposes. Sometimes this takes longer with one
person than another.
3herefore, if <od is de%eloping a group of people
or a team of people who will work together, part of
them may be ready before the rest. 3his is especially
hard, since at the birthing stage, they generally do not
know <odCs plan, and many times they do not e%en
yet know each other.
9n e6cellent e6ample of this is the single person
praying for the perfect mate. <od is, in fact, preparing
that mate, but the one praying gets tired of waiting
since they do not know what is going on behind the
scenes. 3he single person praying for a mate who is
already a mature &hristian, de%eloped in the fruit of
the Spirit and called into full-time ministry, etc., may
need to be willing to wait to get their ?special order?
all fi6ed up on arri%al. 3hat takes time. *t does not
2$e 3eason , 03
happen o%ernight. 8owe%er, <od has the right
person for them.
>a%e got me quickly, but his was not a
demanding prayer. 8e asked <od for a wife=the
right one for him, and he asked <od for her to be
someone who needed help. 8e prayed on and off for
appro6imately si6 months to one year. 4e met, had
fi%e dates and got married. 4e ha%e been married
twenty-eight years as of the publishing of this book in
199/. >a%e has always said he knew * was the right
one the first night we went out, but he waited to ask
me to marry him because he did not want to frighten
me.
8e arri%ed at the conclusion, after only three
weeks of marriage, that * had quite a few problems
and was in need of much help. >a%e recei%ed the
answer to his prayer quickly, but he also had to
endure a lot of hard times while * was growing up in
<od and o%ercoming the problems from my abusi%e
past.
<od knew that >a%e was mature enough to
handle the rough years with meJ therefore, 8e
answered >a%eCs prayer quickly. 8e was strong
enough to help someone who had many problems.
>a%e was willing to be used by <od in that way, and
<od used him. 8ad he been unable to handle it or if
04 , !hen, "od, !hen#
he had prayed for someone more perfected, * belie%e
<od would ha%e delayed 8is answer until a more
appropriate time, after the 'ord had done some maHor
things in my life to get me to the place >a%e had
requested.
3he point * am trying to make is that when we
are waiting on <od, it is essential that we realiKe that
<od may be working out some things with se%eral
people in order to answer our prayer. Belie%ing
makes waiting more endurable.
'et us think about d$e time in regard to financial
increase. 3hird 1ohn . says, ?Belo%ed, * wish abo%e all
things that thou mayest prosper and be in health,
e%en as thy soul prospereth.? 3he phrase even as (o$r
so$l prospers lets us know that <odCs prosperity
depends upon our maturity. As (o$r so$l prospers
refers to how fast we allow <od to bring our mind,
will and emotions into line with 8is will.
2aturity is a process that takes time. 8ow much
time it takes is dependent upon <odCs plan and how
well we cooperate with that plan. <od lo%es us too
much to gi%e us prosperity that we would not be
mature enough to handle properly.
3herefore, 8e tells us, in <alatians A9, ?'et us
not be weary in well doingA for in due season we shall
reap, if we faint not.? 2$e season is when <od knows
2$e 3eason , 05
we are ready, not when we thin6 we are ready.
3oo many blessings too soon can make a person
haughty, thus the Bible instructs us not to place a
no%ice or a new con%ert in leadership. 3hey are not
mature enough, and it would cause them to be lifted
up in pride. @1 3im. 7A.B
3here is a timing for all things in our li%es, and
there is safet( in being in <odCs perfect timing. * pray
to be in <odCs perfect will and 8is perfect timing=
not one step ahead of 8im, nor one step behind.
3
3 Appointed Time
1esus told the disciples in 9cts 1A-", when they
asked 8im questions concerning the end times, that it
was not for them to know what time would bring and
the seasons which the (ather had appointed by 8is
own choice and personal power.
Iou see, the disciples still thought 1esus would
set up an earthly kingdom. 3hey asked when 8e
would re-establish the kingdom and restore it to
*srael.
1esus had been unable to get them to understand
that 8e was going to establish a spiritual kingdom
and that 8is kingdom would be within them. 3he
Bible warns us that knowledge without wisdom is
dangerous. *t would ha%e been disastrous for 1esus to
tell the disciples when 8e would establish the
kingdom since they did not e%en understand what it
was.
2any times we want information on when, and
<od cannot gi%e it because we do not ha%e enough
wisdom to handle the knowledge. 8abakkuk .A7 (AMPB
says, ?(or the %ision is yet for an appointed time and
it hastens to the end FfulfillmentGJ it will not decei%e
0+ , !hen, "od, !hen#
or disappoint. 3hough it tarry, wait FearnestlyG for it,
because it will surely comeJ it will not be behindhand
on its appointed day.? *t will not be late one single
day.
Appointed time simply means when <od knows
the time is right. 4e must humble oursel%es and our
ideas to the wisdom and power of <od and trust 8im
when 8e says 8e will not be late.
Appointed time also means a time already
established and decided for certain reasons. 7t is li6e
having an appointment- 4e cannot get in until the
appointment time comes, and that is Hust the way it is.
<od has an appointed time, or we might say that 8e
has set appointments for us concerning certain issues
in our li%es. 4e might as well settle down and wait
patiently, because that is when it will happen and not
until then.
4
4 The Call
3he timing in%ol%ed when <od calls a person to
do a certain thing, then anoints them for it and
further separates them to do the work can be, and
usually is, at three different inter%als. 5ften there are
lengthy time spans between the three e%ents,
particularly if the person is going to be used by <od
in a maHor way. 'a8or does not necessarily mean
worldwide. *t Hust means in a way that will affect a
good number of people. *n this and the ne6t two
chapters, we will look at each of these e%ents
separately.
4hen <od places a call on someoneCs life, it can
be something that comes suddenly, or it can be
something that the person has somehow always
known. * remember reading that one of the U.S.
presidents had stated in an inter%iew that from the
time he was quite young, he had always had a desire
and ?Hust knew? that he would someday be the
president of the United States.
2y call came rather suddenly. * was making my
bed one morning, and the %oice of the 'ord came
unto me saying, ?Iou are going to go all o%er the
1 , !hen, "od, !hen#
place and teach my 4ord, and you are going to ha%e
a large teaching tape ministry.? L%en though it was
not an audible %oice, it sounded quite loud and clear
inside me. 9nd from that moment on, * ?Hust knew?
that was my destiny, and * had a tremendous, often
o%erwhelming desire to teach the 4ord.
* ne%er knew before that day that * was called to
preach and teach <odCs 4ord. 8owe%er, * can look
back now and see other signposts along the way in
my life. * always had an ability to e6press myself
%erbally and in writing in a %ery clear,
understandable manner. )eople came to me e%en in
high school for help and counseling with their
problems. * had a desire, e%en then, to help people
straighten out their li%es. * was e%en asked to gi%e the
commencement address at my high school
graduation to moti%ate and prod my classmates on to
greater things. * e%en contemplated going to school to
obtain a degree in psychology so that * could help
people as a profession.
9fter >a%e and * had been married for se%eral
years, * was growing closer to the 'ord but still
struggling with tremendous problems in my life
because of my abusi%e past. 4e had three children by
this time, and * remember coming home from church
and lying in bed on Sunday e%enings after the kids
The 9all , 10
were asleep. 3he house was peaceful, quiet and dark,
and * would re-preach the pastorCs sermons=only it
was me at the pulpit and not the pastor. * ne%er had
any idea why * did that, but now * know.
Iour call may come gradually or suddenly, but
from the time you are called, (o$ are in preparation-
5
5 The Anointing
>uring the preparation time, the anointing is
being released in perfectly timed capsules. 3he
anointing is the 8oly Spirit enabling us to do what
<od has called us to do. 3he 8oly Spirit teaches,
corrects, sanctifies, helps and strengthens us. 8e
molds and fashions us into %essels fit for the 2asterCs
use. 3his can take years and years to accomplish.
3hink of 2oses. 8e was sensing a call on his life
to deli%er his people from bondage. 8e stepped out in
Keal and killed an Lgyptian who was mistreating an
*sraelite. 9s a result, he spent the ne6t forty years on
the back side of the desert learning about
shepherding, getting to know <od and being
humbled. :e was gaining e;perien<e- 9 person without
training, e6perience and humility cannot distinguish
the difference between Keal and <odCs timing.
3he anointing is released in our li%es according
to how we cooperate with the preparation process.
&onsider 1oseph, called by <od to be a ruler in Lgypt
to sa%e multitudes from star%ation. 8e was ha%ing
dreams about it as a young boy. *n Keal, he told his
dreams to his brothers. 3hey were not e6actly thrilled
14 , !hen, "od, !hen#
with the thought of bowing down to their younger
brother, so they sold him.
+ow, 1oseph did not mean any harm. 8e was a
sweet boy, but he ob%iously did not use wisdom by
telling them what he had seen in his dreams. <od
allowed some hard years in his life, but those years
trained him in wisdom. 8is e6periences prepared
him for his lifeCs call. 8e went through being betrayed
by not only his family, but also by friends he had
treated well and thought he could trust. 8e was lied
about, misHudged and punished for things of which
he was not guilty, and he had to wait many years
before he saw the fulfillment of his dreams.
4e all ha%e similar e6periences in %arious ways
that help us grow up. 3hey prepare us to be in <odCs
ser%ice and stand steadfast no matter what. <od does
not bring our troubleJ Satan does. 3he de%il has our
destruction in mind, but <od turns it around and
uses it for our good. 1oseph knew this as well because
in <enesis !,A., he told his repentant brothers, ?4hat
you intended for my harm, <od meant for good?
@paraphrasedB.
4hen <od called me to teach 8is 4ord, * had
family and friends reHect me, and * was %ery lonely
and hurt by it. * was misHudged, misunderstood and
talked about unkindly. 8owe%er, * was also
The Anointing , 15
presumptuous, impetuous and full of unwise Keal. *n
short, 7 was f$ll of m(self- * might add, e%erybody is
until they go through the preparation process
themsel%es.
Should you happen to be thinking, ?+ot me=*
donCt ha%e these problems,? * would suggest that you
are in for a rude awakening about yourselfE 9nd until
you ?humble? yourself ?under the mighty hand of
<od,? your due time will ne%er come. @1 )et. !A.B
* can look back now and see %ery distinct stages
of progress in my ministry that correlated with stages
of personal growth and a greater anointing.
(ome )i*le +tudies
*n one of the first stages, <od instructed me to
quit my well-paying, full-time Hob in order to prepare
for ministry, which * finally did. 3his decision cut our
income in half. <od always met our needs, but those
were lean years.
* began by teaching home Bible studies, which
went on for about fi%e years. >uring the first two and
one-half years, * taught once a week. 3he meeting
grew so large that * started teaching two meetings=
one in the morning and the second in the e%ening.
L%en though >a%e and * were e6periencing se%ere
16 , !hen, "od, !hen#
financial stress at that time, * recei%ed nothing
financially for those meetings.
3he people we were teaching, about twenty-fi%e
at each meeting, resisted any idea of an offering being
recei%ed for us e%en though we had some ob%ious
needs. *t was hard for me, but it purified my moti%es
for teaching. * kept doing it, so * clearly was not doing
it for money. 9lthough it was difficult at times not to
be resentful toward the people, * e%entually learned
that things were happening this way because <od did
not want me to know where my pro%ision was going
to come from. 8e wanted to establish :imself as my
source, and this takes time as well as enduring hard
situations we would like to run from.
2any do run. 3hey are called, but because they
are not willing to endure the preparation time, they
are ne%er chosen out from among the called. 2atthew
.,A1 (AMP) says, ?2any are called, but few chosen.? *
heard one speaker say that this means ?many are
called, but few are willing to accept the responsibility
for the call.?
The Amplified Bible%s translation of Second
3imothy .A1! e6pounds a little on the responsibility
we ha%e for the call, ?Study and be eager and do your
utmost to present yourself to <od appro%ed @tested
by trialB, a workman who has no cause to be
The Anointing , 1=
ashamed, correctly analyKing and accurately di%iding
Frightly handling and skillfully teachingG the 4ord of
3ruth.?
>uring those years of teaching in a li%ing room
to twenty-fi%e people, <od taught me a great deal
about ministry.
"ut On a +helf
3hen, * had one whole year in which * did
absolutely nothing in ministry. <od had spoken to
me, saying, ?Stop the home Bible studiesJ behold, * do
a new thing.? 2y desire to do the Bible studies had
%anishedE * had a new baby, and e%erything in my
heart, as well as my circumstances, ga%e confirmation
to that 4ord from <od.
*n one way, it was hard to obey. 3he people had
finally begun to gi%e us a small offering each week. *t
was usually somewhere between fifteen and fifty
dollars. But o%er a month, it was helping us out a lot.
+ow, * had to be willing to walk away from that
source of pro%ision in order to go on to the ne6t step.
2y flesh e6pected something grand to happen
after my sacrificial obedienceJ howe%er, nothing
happened for one (ear* +o doors openedE *n many ways
this was one of the hardest years of my life. 8ad *
1+ , !hen, "od, !hen#
missed <odD 8ad * made up my whole %isionD
4ould it e%er happenD 4hat could * do to make it
happenD <od kept saying, ?Be still, and know that *
am <od.? @)s. /A1,.B
Sometimes it is so hard to wait and be still for
<odCs timing. 9t the time, * didnCt understand what *
am telling you about now. 4e ha%e a much clearer
understanding of things when we look back on them
and far less understanding while we are pressing
through them.
Sometimes <od puts people on a shelf and Hust
lets them sit there. *t seems as though nothing is
happening, and yet much is being accomplished in
the Spirit. *t is a time of growth, fine-tuning,
purifying and belie%ing when there is nothing at all
to see.
The ,e-t .ie Years
3oward the end of this year of waiting, >a%e and
* began attending a new church. *t was Hust starting in
the St. 'ouis area. *t was small, about thirty people,
but we had a %ery strong witness in our hearts that
<od wanted us there. 9fter a while, * was gi%en the
opportunity to start a 3hursday morning 4omenCs
2eeting at the church, 'ife &hristian &enter. 3his
meeting was ordained by <od as the ne6t phase of
The Anointing , 1/
my ministry, and it was "od%s timing-
9s 8e blessed, it grew. 9t its peak, we enHoyed
an attendance of four hundred ladies each week.
L%entually * worked full-time at the church and
became an 9ssociate )astor there. * was ordained
through 'ife &hristian &enter and taught Bible
college there. 3he church then sponsored my first
radio program which aired in St. 'ouis.
* learned many important lessons during my fi%e
years there. 5ne thing * learned was how to submit to
authority. 9 person is not fit to be in authority until
they ha%e e6perienced coming under authority.
Memember, submission is not Hust an action, it is an
attitude. Iou may decide to do what you are told, but
a submissi%e attitude must be birthed in you,
especially if you are strong-willed like * was.
5%er a period of time * learned to work with a
group of people and to function in %arious types of
ministry. * also learned a lot more about waiting.
3here were many things <od had put in my heart,
things * wanted to do, but, once again, the time was
not right=so more waiting, more learning and more
growing.
3hese were great years, and they were hard
years filled with laughter and tears, e6citement and
disappointment. 3hrough it all, the pastors of 'ife
3 , !hen, "od, !hen#
&hristian &enter, Mick and >onna Shelton, and >a%e
and * became, and still are, the best of friends. 4e all
grew together.
* ha%e learned that when people grow together, if
they do not gi%e up on each other, they are usually
meshed together in a deep relationship that will
endure for all time. Iou might say that while the
mess is being mashed out of you, you are being
meshed together.
4hen 'ife &hristian &enter had grown to a
congregation of about 1,.,,, the staff was preparing
to mo%e into their brand new, beautiful building.
L%erything was e6ploding with %ictory and
e6citement when <od spoke again.
6
6 The Separation
"Life In The /ord" )egins
Memember when <od originally spoke to meD
?3he call? came while * was making my bed, and the
'ord said, ?Iou will go all o%er the place. . . and
ha%e a large teaching tape ministry.? 3hat had been
fulfilled in a small way during the years of
preparation, but the %ision had increased in other
areas.
5ne day in prayer, a specific Scripture was
enlightened to me in )hilippians .A1 (AMP) in a
mighty way. *t said, ?8olding out Fto itG? @the worldB
?and offering Fto all menG the 4ord of 'ife ....? 3hat
day * recei%ed a %ision to reach out to the entire
nation by radio.
* was not on any radio station at the time the
%ision came. * had tra%eled a little but not %ery far.
3here was much more in my heart, but * kept
thinking <od would somehow work all of it into my
Hob at 'ife &hristian &enter, which * liked %ery much.
But, <od had other plans.
)ro%erbs 1A9 @ampB says, ?9 manCs mind plans
31 , !hen, "od, !hen#
his way, but the 'ord directs his steps.? * had a plan. *
thought it was <odCs plan, but 8e spoke again and
said, ?* am finished with you here. 3ake your
ministry and go +orth, South, Last, and 4est.? * saw
in the Spirit that * was to take the e6isting ?'ife *n 3he
4ord? meeting that operated out of 'ife &hristian
&enter and begin similar meetings in other places. *
fought this for a long time, but * finally felt sure it was
<od saying to do it. * also knew that if * was wrong, *
would lose e%erything the last ten years represented.
* was afraidE
* finally obeyed <od and left my Hob at the
church. *t was during this transition that <od showed
me that 8e was now separating me to ?the call? on
my life. L%erything else had been wonderful, but it
was all preparation. Lach step of the way, <odCs
anointing increased as my responsibility increased.
*n 9cts 17A. (AMPB it is recorded that as the saints
?were worshipping? together, the 8oly Spirit told
them to separate ?now? )aul and Barnabas unto 8im
for the work to which 8e had called them. 3hey had
been doing things in ministry, fruitful things that
brought blessing. But in <odCs timing, 8e said, ?now
is the appointed time.?
* want you to be encouraged that in <odCs time
you will see the dreams and %isions that <od has
The 3eparation , 33
gi%en you fulfilled. *f 8e has placed a certain call on
your life, 8e will fulfill it in 8is timing. &ooperate
each step of the way and remember that the call, the
anointing and the separation to the call can occur o%er
a span of many years. Be faithf$l in all the little things-
)o$r times are in :is hands-
7
7 Are ou Tired o! "aiting#
*f you ha%e been waiting a long time and ha%e
not seen much progress, you are probably getting
%ery tired of waiting. * want to encourage you to take
a fresh attitude toward waiting. 3he Bible, in 2ark
/A.,-.#, says that we are to be patient like the farmer
who puts his seed in the ground and then waits for
the early and latter rain. 3he 4ord goes on to say that
while he waits for the seed to sprout, he rises up and
goes to bed, and e%entually it comes up. 9nd he, the
farmer, knows not how.
<od has taught me through these Scriptures to
keep li%ing the life * ha%e now while * am waiting for
things that are in my heart to come to pass. 4e can
become so intent on trying to birth the ne6t thing, that
we do not take care of and enHoy the things at hand.
* had a %ision from <od ten years before * began
to see its fullness. >uring those ten years, * belie%e *
missed a lot of Hoy trying to gi%e birth outside of
<odCs timing.
'etCs say a woman who has fi%e children
becomes pregnant. *f she started trying to gi%e birth
to the new baby in the first month, it would seem
36 , !hen, "od, !hen#
rather ridiculous. 4hat if she tried so hard to get the
new baby to come that she failed to take proper care
of the fi%e she already hadD 4e can readily see the
foolishness of this scenario. 8owe%er, in reality,
people often do the same thing with other situations.
>n8o( where (o$ are while (o$ are waiting to get to
where (o$ want to be* 4hen the Bible says the farmer
rises up and goes to bed, * belie%e it means he li%es
his ordinary, e%eryday life while he is waiting for his
en%isioned garden to sprout.
5ne day a pastor picked us up at a crowded
airport. *t was e6tremely busy. 3he escalators had
lines, and the restaurants had lines. *t seemed as if
e%erywhere we turned we were waiting. * could see
that the pastor was getting a bit frustrated with the
whole thing. Suddenly he turned to me and said, ?*
guess you can see that * donCt wait well.?
9nytime we ha%enCt learned to wait well the
results are ob%ious, not only in the way we beha%e
emotionally but also in our physical bodies. 4aiting
is a large part of life, and if waiting always brings
frustration, it creates stress that e%entually takes a toll
on the physical body and can cause sickness. 3his
particular pastor who did not ?wait well? was %ery
sick at the time with physical weakness that his
doctor said had been produced by years of stress.
Are )o$ Tired of !aiting# , 3=
Ta6e a new attit$de toward waiting, and it will not have to
be so diffi<$lt for (o$-
*n all truth, we spend more time waiting in our
li%es than we do recei%ing.
9fter we recei%e what we are waiting for, we will
begin waiting for something else. *f you can see what
* mean, you will be able to quickly realiKe that waiting
is a ma8or part of life-
'etCs say you get a raise and then wait for the
ne6t one. Iou wait for a child, then you wait for them
to get out of diapers into pants and soon you are
waiting for them to be able to buy their own pantsE
Iou wait to buy a house, then wait to buy furniture
for your house that you are no longer waiting for.
3hen you wait to be able to afford a cleaning lady to
help you clean your house and the furniture that you
waited for. >o you get my meaningD
'earn to enHoy waiting, realiKing that waiting is
what will deli%er your dream. * really should say
?waiting well? is what will deli%er your dream. 3he
fulfillment, of course, comes from <od, but waiting is
like the deli%ery boy. Sometimes a person starts
waiting. By the time the deli%ery boy arri%es, they
ha%e gone off and started something else, and they
probably will not be around for the end fulfillment of
that thing either.
3+ , !hen, "od, !hen#
*mpatient people often do not hang around long
enough to see the finish of really great things because
great things take so much time to mature. 2y
husband, >a%e, always says, &?ast and fragile. slow
and solid-& *f it is thrown together quickly to suit the
impatient and those who do not wait well, it is not
likely to be lasting. 8owe%er, if people are willing to
wait on <odCs perfect timing, it will be put together
right and will last a long, long time.
5ccasionally we see ?shooting stars? in ministry
=people who come out of seemingly nowhere and
practically o%ernight are known worldwide, usually
because they happened to get in with a certain group
of people who had an ability to open doors for them.
Marely do their ministries last. 3hey often get into
trouble financially or morally because character is
built during the hard times of waiting, but they didnCt
go through that character-building time.
*f a person somehow a%oids all the hard things
and shoots up o%ernight, they generally do not last.
2ark /A!, says that the seed which shoots up
o%ernight withers when the heat comes. 4hen we
finally learn to respect and appreciate the times of
waiting, <od goes to work in earnest. 9nd e%en
though we cannot see what is happening, the things
that will make us happy later on are happening right
Are )o$ Tired of !aiting# , 3/
now behind the scenes.
$
$ %atien&e' %lease(
3he Bible says in 8ebrews A1. that we inherit
the promises through faith and patience. +ow
inheritance does not require any effort on our part. *t
only requires waiting until the appointed time. (or
e6ample, you may belie%e, or ha%e faith, that a
relati%e has willed you an inheritance, but you must
ha%e patience and wait for the proper time to recei%e
it. (aith and patience are partners. 3hey work
together to bring the desired result.
1ames 1A.,7 (AMPB says that we are to be Hoyful
when we ?encounter trials of any sort? knowing that
?the pro%ing of your faith? brings out patience. 9nd
when patience has had her perfect work, we will be a
people ?perfectly and fully de%eloped ... lacking in
nothing.? 4owE 4hat a ScriptureE
3he <reek word for ?patience? in this %erse,
h$pomone, means the kind of ?patience which grows
only in trial.?
1
*n other words, how can we grow in
patience unless we are required to wait for something
we want or endure something we do not want while
1 4. L. Nine, An >;positor( 2i<tionar( of New Testament !ords @5ld
3appan, +ew 1erseyA (leming 8. Me%ell &o., 19/,B, Nol. *ll, p. 1#.
41 , !hen, "od, !hen#
we are waitingD
4hen we ha%e trials, we grow, or at least we can
grow, if we ?let patience ha%e her perfect work.?
@1ames 1:4.) Mesistance, bitterness, and running
away from e%ery hard place does not produce
patience. 1ames 1:4 (AMP) says that we can be
perfectly de%eloped and lacking in @or ?wanting
nothing? KJV) once patience has done a thorough
work. 3his is simple to see. *f a person is totally
patient, he or she can be peaceful and Hoyful in any
situation.
* am certainly not perfect in patience, but * ha%e
grown a lot. 3here was a time when * was e6tremely
impatient, and * did not wait well. * finally realiKed
that <od was not going to change, so * decided * had
better change and adapt to 8is ways. 8e says that we
recei%e by faith and patience, so * decided to let
patience de%elop in me. 7 have grown in patien<e, and at
an e@$al rate, 7 have gained pea<e and 8o(-
)atience is a fruit of the Spirit. )atience is a
powerful witness to unbelie%ers. *t is like a muscle=
the more you need to use it, the stronger it gets. 3hen
finally, it is fully de%eloped, and you only ha%e to do
e6ercises to keep yourself toned up in the area of
patience=%arious and sundry things that do not
happen as planned like slow people in front of you, a
Patien<e, Please* , 43
stalled car on the highway, not understanding what is
happening in your life or needing answers that seem
slow in coming.
9ll of these things help us in the end, e%en
though they are hard when we are going through
them. *f we can see this, it will gi%e us a new
appreciation for patience. 8ebrews 1.A1 (AMPB
encourages us saying, ?'et us run with patient
endurance and steady and acti%e persistence the
appointed course of the race that is set before us.?
L%ery race has a finish line. Iou will cross the finish
line, but 8ebrews tells us how to run the race.
)e "atient /ith Yourself
9llow me to encourage you to begin building a
foundation for a patient lifestyle by being patient
with yourself. 4hen you make mistakes, recei%e
mercy from <od and press on toward the finish line.
Be patient with yourself while you are o%ercoming
your weaknesses. 7mpatien<e breeds fr$stration, and
frustration mo%es us into a realm of emotions which
are unstable. 3hen, we end up making more mistakes
than if we had gi%en oursel%es some patience in the
first place.
)eople impro%e more rapidly under patience
than under pressureE Be generous with patience. <i%e
44 , !hen, "od, !hen#
it away freely to yourself and others. Iou will find
the benefits delightful. 'uke "A1! (AMP) says, ?steadily
bring forth fruit with patience.?
)
) "hen "ill *+ Dream
Come True#
Iour dream is in the process right nowE *t is on
the sto%e cooking. Iou ha%e heard the phrase, ?3he
watched pot ne%er boils.? * really encourage you to
simply get the most out of e%ery day. >o your part,
but do not try to do <odCs part.
3here is a perfect timing=<odCs timing. 5nly 8e
knows when it is. 8onor <od by trusting 8im, and
while you are tra%eling the road to fulfillment, en8o(
the trip*
+o one can tell you e6actly when it will come,
but be assured it will come at Hust the right time.
Believe it, and enter "od%s rest*
,-perien&ing a .ew /i!e
*f you ha%e ne%er in%ited 1esus to be your 'ord
and Sa%ior, * in%ite you to do so now. Iou can pray
this prayer, and if you are really sincere about it, you
will e6perience a new life in &hrist.
?ather "od, 7 believe Jes$s 9hrist is )o$r
3on, the 3avior of the world- 7 believe :e died on
the <ross for me, and :e bore all of m( sins- :e
paid the pri<e for m( sins- :e too6 the
p$nishment 7 deserved- :e went to hell in m(
pla<e and <ame o$t tri$mphant- 7 believe Jes$s
was res$rre<ted from the dead and is now seated
at )o$r right hand- 7 need )o$, Jes$s- ?orgive
m( sins, save me, <ome to live inside me- 7 want
to be born again-
+ow belie%e 1esus is li%ing in your heart. Iou are
forgi%en and made righteous, and when 1esus comes,
you will go to hea%en.
(ind a good church that is teaching <odCs 4ord
and begin to grow in &hrist. +othing will change in
your life without knowledge of <odCs 4ord.
4+ , !hen, "od, !hen#
Beloved,
John +A30, 31 BAMPC sa(s, &7f (o$ abide in
'( !ord--- (o$ are tr$l( '( dis<iples- And (o$
will 6now the tr$th, and the tr$th will set (o$
free-&
7 e;hort (o$ to ta6e hold of "od%s !ord,
plant it deep in (o$r heart, and a<<ording to 1
9orinthians 3A0+, as (o$ loo6 into the !ord, (o$
will be transformed into the image of Jes$s
9hrist-
!rite and let me 6now (o$ have a<<epted
Jes$s, and as6 for a free boo6let on how to begin
(o$r new life in 9hrist-
!ith Dove,
Jo(<e
A0out the Author
0oyce Meyer has been teaching the 4ord of <od
since 19# and in full-time ministry since 19",. 9s an
associate pastor at 'ife &hristian &enter in St. 'ouis,
2issouri, she de%eloped, coordinated and taught a
weekly meeting known as ?'ife *n 3he 4ord.? 9fter
more than fi%e years, the 'ord brought it to a
conclusion, directing her to establish her own
ministry and call it ?'ife *n 3he 4ord, *nc.?
1oyceCs ?'ife *n 3he 4ord? radio broadcast is
heard on o%er .!, stations worldwide. 8er thirty-
minute ?'ife *n 3he 4ord 4ith 1oyce 2eyer?
tele%ision program was released in 1997 and is
broadcast throughout the United States and &anada.
8er teaching tapes are enHoyed internationally. 1oyce
also tra%els e6tensi%ely conducting ?'ife *n 3he
4ord? conferences, as well as speaking in local
churches.
1oyce and her husband, >a%e 2eyer, Business
9dministrator at ?'ife *n 3he 4ord?, ha%e been
married for almost thirty years and are the parents of
four children. 3hree are married, and their youngest
son resides with them in (enton, 2issouri, a St. 'ouis
suburb.
1oyce belie%es the call on her life is to establish
5 , !hen, "od, !hen#
belie%ers in <odCs 4ord. She says, ?1esus died to set
the capti%es free, and far too many &hristians ha%e
little or no %ictory in their daily li%es.? (inding herself
in the same situation many years ago, and ha%ing
found freedom to li%e in %ictory through applying
<odCs 4ord, 1oyce goes equipped to set capti%es free
and to e6change ashes for bea$t(-
1oyce has taught on emotional healing and
related subHects in meetings all o%er the country,
helping multiplied thousands. She has recorded o%er
a hundred and forty different audio cassette albums
and is the author of thirteen books to help the Body of
&hrist on %arious topics.
8er ?Lmotional 8ealing )ackage? contains more
than twenty-three hours of teaching on the subHect.
9lbums included in this package areA ?&onfidence?J
?Beauty for 9shes? @includes a syllabusBJ ?2anaging
Iour Lmotions?J ?Bitterness, Mesentment, and
Unforgi%eness?J and ?Moot of MeHection.?
1oyce has fi%e different audio tape series on the
subHect of the mind. 3hey includeA ?2ental
Strongholds O 2indsets?J ?4ilderness 2entality?J
?3he 4andering, 4ondering 2ind?J ?3he )ower of
3houghts?J and ?3he 2ind of the (lesh.? She also has
two tape series entitledA ?'o%e *s...? and ?'o%eA 3he
Ultimate )ower.?
Abo$t the A$thor , 50
4rite to 1oyce 2eyerCs office for a Mesource
&atalog and further information on how to obtain the
tapes you need to bring total healing to your life.
To *onta*t the author,
write3
4o-*e ,e-er
1i%e 5n The &ord, 5n*.
). O. 6o/ #55
Fenton, ,issouri #372#
or *all3
831!9 3!":7373
5n Canada, lease write3
4o-*e ,e-er ,inistries Canada, 5n*.
). O. 6o/ 2""5
1ondon, Ontario 0#A !;"
Please in<l$de (o$r pra(er re@$ests
and <omments when (o$ write-
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)ro*laiming the truth and the ower
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