"Ignoring God's Timing: The Consequences and Lessons Learned"

0:00 Hello, hello, and welcome back, my beautiful people, to the Diary of a Black Woman's Podcast. I'm so happy for your support. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm glad that you are returning for another one of our powerful episodes in our series, The Games We Play With God. Today's episode is called Ignoring God's Timing. One of the most challenging aspects of our walk with God is waiting on his perfect timing. It's always tempting, you know, to rush ahead, to kind of have a plan B, right?

0:43 When we think God is moving way too slow or delaying us or maybe he didn't hear us when his timing feels inconvenient. But ignoring God's timing can lead to missed blessings and unnecessary struggles. So today we're going to explore the story of Sarah and Abraham as they waited for the promised child. We'll discuss the consequences of stepping outside of God's timeline. You know, I always talk about, you know, God is going to bless you. But guess what? He is going to also have you take care of some consequences for not listening than the first time.

1:31 You know how when you're a child, you know, yeah, I love you, baby girl, baby boy. But because you didn't obey, you still got that punishment. It won't be as long, but you still got to understand when I say no, it means no. Right. Like, so like I said, we're going to explore the story of Abraham and Sarah as they waited for their promised child. You know, that was Isaac. And we'll discuss the consequences of stepping outside of God's timeline. If you ever struggle with impatience. Or fear of waiting for God's promises, this episode is for you. So we're going to discuss Sarah and Abraham's impatience.

2:13 I think it was more Sarah's impatience, but let's see. Let's go to Genesis 16, chapter 16, verses 1 through 4, and let's read. It says, Now Sarai, Abraham, Abraham's wife, had borne no children, but she had an Egyptian slave named Hagar. So she said to Abraham, The Lord has kept me from having children. Go sleep with my slave. Perhaps I can build a family through her. Abraham agreed to what Sarai said. So after Abraham had been living in Canaan for 10 years, Sarai, his wife, took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.

3:04 Now we listen to that story, we go like, well, that sounds like Sarai grew impatient with God. And Sarai thought of a shortcut to get what she wanted from God. I said, you know, maybe this is how God wanted it. And then we have Abraham says, okay, let's try it this way. It sounds like the story of the garden of Adam and Eve. Remember, you know, remember Adam knew what the story was. Eve probably knew too, because, you know, if you're hanging out with Adam, he'd probably say, you know, the Lord said, don't touch any of those trees.

3:46 Don't, you know, we're not supposed to do this. And who gave in? Adam gave in too, right? And so, you know, Abraham knew what the story was, and he and Eve still gave in to Sarai, his wife. So we always ask, you know, as a police officer, retired police officer at that, asking, you know, when you see something that's unbelievable, because everything that we experience as police officers don't really make the news. Some things are just kind of unbelievable. Like, who thought of this idea and how did you think that was going to work? That's kind of those plans. Like, how, Sarah, how did you think that was going to work out in the eyes of God?

4:29 Abraham, I mean, what was no? Can you say, no, this is not going to work? Could we wait on God? So in our own eyes, we can be critical, right? We can say, dang, really, Sarai? But what have we done, right? What have we done to kind of fast forward a promise from God or shortcut a plan for God? Let's just not get all in their case. Let's talk about our business. So we see here that God has promised Abraham descendants as numerous as stars. So Abraham knew that he was going to have some descendants. So he figured like still, as the years passed without a child, Sarah took manners into her own hands.

5:10 She gave her servant Hagar to Abraham, leading to jealousy, conflict, and heartache. Can I just say, what did you expect? If we go out of the will of God, we can expect to have jealousy, conflict, and heartache. Why? Because it's not God's perfect plan. You sleeping with your slave, how do you think that was going to work out? Ignoring God's timing often leads to solutions that bring temporary relief, but long-term complications. Can I get a shout out on that one?

5:52 I want to say that again. Ignoring God's timing often leads to solutions. I didn't say it didn't solve the problem. It gives you a solution, but it brings temporary relief. But long-term complications. So are you trying to force a solution instead of waiting on God's perfect timing? What's the cost of ignoring God's timing? Sarah and Abraham's impatience came with significant consequences. Number one, a conflict in relationships. Whenever your man sleeps with another woman, you know that's going to be conflict.

6:33 So I don't know Sarah had a bright idea, but then she got a little jealous. Did she get a little jealous? It was a little conflict and she had a little heartache. So you read the story, that was just a lot of drama that could have been avoided. The decision to involve Hagar in that marriage relationship led to division and strife within their household. Number two, it delayed the promises of God. It delayed God's promise. God did not speak to Abraham and Sarah for 14 years. Think how it felt to not hear God's voice for that long when God was always speaking to Abram.

7:15 Abram knew he messed up, so their action didn't cancel God's promise, but delayed their ability to experience the fulfillment of his blessings. You know when you messed up when God's not talking to you. Number three, generational impact. We know the story of Ishmael, the son of Hagar, became the ancestor of a nation that will often be at odds with Israel. So we started a long-term fight. What did I say earlier? It says ignoring God's timing often leads to a solution that brings temporary relief but long-term complications.

7:59 Psalms 27, 14 tells us to wait for the Lord. Be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. So that strong and take heart is that part of waiting for the Lord. Waiting on God requires faith and patience, but His timing is always worth it. Some modern examples of ignoring God's timing. So that's all. We've got the Bible example. So how does it look today when we ignore God's timing? We may not be giving our servants to our spouses, but often we often ignore God's timing in other ways.

8:39 How do we do that? Number one, rushing into decisions, whether it's a career move, a relationship, or a significant purchase, moving ahead of God often leads to regret. I mean, if you can say, yep, that's true, just rushing into a decision. Many times we have a decision waiting on our desk or even in our family situation. And if we do it now, it's always, if we do it now, we'll get this. But if we wait, we might miss this. Always this rush. It reminds me of shopping online. And they always say, this is the last one. And you're like, well, I don't need it right now.

9:21 But you feel forced to buy it because it says it's running out or quantity is low. But what happens if you just turn it, turn off that online shopping and just, if it's there tomorrow, I'll get it. If it's not, I won't. And instead of feeling pressured to purchase something that you really maybe not need, especially if you're doubting about getting it in the first place or rushing to buy a new car when your car is still running pretty good, you know, or rushing to buy a house because your neighbor or your friend bought one, resting to have a baby because everybody in the office is pregnant. Did I say that? Come on now. Rushing to get married.

10:01 It's always a rush, a rush, a rush. Whenever you feel that rush, that means that's not God because God is the one that will have you waiting patiently. So whenever you find yourself waiting patiently, you know that's the Lord at work in your life. And so that's how you know when you're ignoring God's timing, when you feel like you're being rushed. Even if you wait 24 hours, just wait because the Lord might have something better. Number two, forcing outcomes, trying to control situations instead of trusting God to work them out in his time. Many times you want to do something, but maybe your friends aren't ready, or maybe you're not ready and your friends are trying to get you to do something.

10:46 You just want to wait, right? Forcing outcomes. What are you trying to force? You know, just sit and you wait. I'm not going to rush it. I'm going to be patient. I'm going to wait for this to happen. I'm not going to force it. Whenever you feel the rush or you feel a force, you automatically say that's not God because God is not going to force you to do anything, and he's definitely not going to rush you to do anything. Another thing here is number three, it says delaying when God says to move. Okay, sometimes ignoring God's timing means hesitating when he calls us to act.

11:30 Now, sometimes God has an urgent, it's in your spirit, he'll say, go now. And then you're too busy waiting when he's telling you to go. And you know when it's urgent because it doesn't release it. It doesn't, it's not the force that you feel like compelled to. It's a different kind, it's a different feeling. You're like, I need you to do it now. Turn now, stop now, go now. If you know how God works, you'll know that's him. But sometimes, many times we ignore God's timing and then we miss the appointment, right?

12:10 So how do you ignore God's timing? when you rush, when you're forced, and even sometimes you are delayed. You delay it. So you're so protected that you're always waiting, that you don't know when to move. So you have to find a balance here. So sometimes hesitation, you just can't be so nervous. When God tells you to go, go. If he tells you to stop, stop. If you trust God, he's going to not let you make a mistake If you just listen to him, get used to following his direction, right? So don't rush it, don't force it, and don't delay it.

12:51 Ecclesiastes 3.1 reads, There's a time for everything and a season for every action under the heavens. God's timing is perfect even when it doesn't align with our plans. So good. How do we stop playing games and line ourselves with God's timing? Here are three steps to do that. So we already understand... How not to, how not, how, how when we ignore God's timing, how can we learn to trust God's timing? How can we do that? So surrender, number one, you want to surrender your timeline. We have a plan.

13:33 We know we set a time and we got this clock and we like, I want it to happen by Wednesday at noon. And when it doesn't, what happens to us? We pretty much lose faith because our deadline did not meet God's deadline. Isaiah 55.8 says it clearly. He says, for my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. So we have to trust that God's timing is better than yours, even when it's hard to wait. And then number two, seek God's guidance daily. Spend time in prayer in the word and stay in tune to his timing.

14:16 The steps of a good man are order. And number three, be willing to wait or move. So be patient when God says to wait and obedient when he says to move. So number one, surrender your timeline. Seek God's guidance daily. That's a key. Just knowing how he flows will help you stay right, connected with him. And number three will be easy. Be willing to wait or to move. And I think what they call that, the fear of missing out. Like, I don't want to miss him. I don't want to miss him. What's yours is yours, I always believe. Like, he's not going to let you miss it. Because when he tells you to go, he's going to say, this is it.

14:58 You know, he has a way of kind of nudging you forward so you don't miss it. But you will have to be in tune with him in prayer. Always meeting that appointment in the morning or in the evening, whenever you spend time with God. Then you will say, yep, it's time for me to go. And no one else is moving, but you know that you know that you know that you know that it's your time. You know, that it's your time to go. It's your time to move. Yeah. I was going to say something else, but I'm going to move on. It says, let's align our words with our mind. It's what our voice put our word on, some decrees here, so we can declare the truth that aligns with God's timing. It says, I decree that I will trust God's timing, knowing that it's perfect and purposeful.

15:52 I want to say that again. I decree that I would trust God's timing, knowing it's perfect and purposeful. Remember, we want it to be perfect and purposeful. And when it happens, it's always perfect and it's purposeful. We couldn't even figure it out. It's just so perfect. So you decree that you want his timing and you want it to be perfect and purposeful. That's so when you move, when God move, you move, right? I love that. When God move, you move. Number one, I decree that I will wait on the Lord with faith and patience, surrendering my timeline to him. We live by a clock, right? But God doesn't.

16:34 He knows what time it is down on earth, but he knows also what time it is in the spirit realm. So you have to be spiritually aware and spiritually alert. And how do you do that? Through faith and through patience. And let's do a last decree. I decree that I will act with obedience and courage when God calls me to move. So I won't be afraid. I will just go. I will just do it. So you said these decrees, I will trust in His timing. I will wait with faith and patience. and I will act in obedience. So what I want you to take away here is that you want to reflect on areas where you might be ignoring God's timing.

17:20 You know, what I realized too, if you're a person that's always late, I have friends that were always late. They're late all the time to the point where I'd rather drive and meet them there than me arriving late with them. I mean, it started when we were teenagers and then it went on into Doha. So nothing really changed. And to the point where, you know what? I'll meet you there. You know, I don't. And so it's like I'll meet you there. So when I get ready to go, I can just leave because usually they're late to the party. They're late to everything, but they want to stay later. And I usually when it's time for me to go, I'm ready to go. So we kind of worked it out. I'll meet you there. We'll have fun while we're there.

18:03 They want to stay. I can go. And you kind of you really learn independence that way. Right. And so but if you always have a tendency to be late. To everything, and then you wonder why God's timing is off, try showing up on time every now and then, just saying, just saying, and get the feeling of what that feels like. And then you can see how God works, because God does work in the timing arena. His timing is always, always perfect. But here this week, I want you to, first of all, if you're always running late, try to be on time. Just try a couple of times this week and see how that works. Leave early, prepare, and try to work on your timing.

18:45 Number two, am I rushing ahead of God or am I hesitant when he's calling me to act? Like, find out what's that about? Why am I so nervous that God won't show up or why am I hesitating when he tells me to do something? Find out, like, what does that fall into? Why am I rushing ahead or why am I falling back? I mean, that's a question that you and God I can have that discussion on and you go to him with some direct questions. He will give you a direct answer and he can even pinpoint it like where it started and why, you know. And it's probably like fear and unbelief can play into that.

19:27 You know, I'm so afraid you're not going to show up, so I go ahead of you. Or I'm afraid of being embarrassed because I brag on you a lot, God. So I kind of hesitate on putting your name out there first, right? And so maybe those are some things that, you know, that you might kind of show up. Or you will do something and say, God did it, and really he didn't, right? So how can I trust his plan and timing more fully this week? So, like I said, if you're always late, show up on time. Number two, find out why you do the things you do, you know, and say, Lord, I want to work on this part. I want to fix this part. I just wrote a couple of three-part devotionals coming later.

20:10 I don't know when it's coming out, but in the public realm, but it's called Interference Detected. But finding out why, and those are some of the things that Satan can interfere in your life in different ways to make you not trust God. And if he's already have you late, and so he can kind of get into your mind and play more games with you because of everything else off kilter. God is a God of excellence and integrity. Check those areas too. Right. And so another challenge I want to challenge you with is identify one decision or situation where you've been struggling to trust God's timing.

20:51 Write it down, pray over it daily and commit to surrender to him. So you've already did a self check, finding out, you know, why I'm always rushing ahead or why I'm always delayed. Why I'm always late anyway. What is that about me? But then you want to just set one. What's that one thing that I'm struggling with in trusting God's time? You having that one practical challenge that you want to work with, you know, go to God with a hundred, you're going to feel defeated. Just pick one, maybe write down your a hundred or your 10 or your five or your three, whatever that is, but then just pick one and say, Lord, I want to work on this one.

21:33 I want to work on this one. And then once you are successful in that one area. Then you'll be like, okay, then I work on that too. Because we're talking about playing games with God and God is in this zone of getting us to align with what he has because he has more for us than what you see, right? If you can see it, then that's not where he wants you. You want you to be in faith and believe in the things you can't see beyond what you can ask or imagine, that zone, that faith zone. walking in that faith zone. And a lot of it's going to require you moving without seeing.

22:15 And so that hesitation or that delay is going to prevent you from getting there. And so this week or just today after you hear this, go ahead and write down that one decision or situation that you've been struggling with God's timing. Write it down, pray over it, surrender to God, and just work it out. Don't say, Lord, this is what I want to work out. I want to begin to trust you more. Find a scripture, make a decree about it. Use the decrees I've already mentioned. I'll say it again. I'll say it, repeat them. I decree that with trust in God's timing, knowing that it's perfect and purposeful.

22:55 So, Lord, I know you told me to do this. I know it's purpose. I know it's purposeful. So help me, Lord, to do this. I'm going to start today, right now. I decree that I wait on the Lord with faith and patience, surrendering my timeline to him. So if you're in a rush to do something and you don't know when, say, Lord, I'm going to surrender this thing to you, work on your perfect timeline. And then when you tell me to do it, I'm going to act in obedience and courage. When you tell me to go, I'm going to go. I'm not going to hesitate no more because I'm going to just do it and it'll all work out. I know when the Lord told me to start a podcast, I bought all the equipment.

23:40 And I don't really like the sound of my voice on the microphone. But isn't that the thing that God wants to use, the thing you don't like about yourself the most? Come on, y'all, right? I don't like the way I look in the mirror and he wants you to take a picture and post it. You're like, oh my gosh, I got to take a picture. I kind of want to use your voice. I'm like, I hate my voice. So those are things that he wants to use in your life that you don't like, right? And I thought I wasn't a writer, but I'm writing. So it's things that you don't like about yourself that he wants to use. I'm on that topic. So God wants us to get serious about that. And so that's why he says, just trust in me, right?

24:24 Just trust in me. Just move when I tell you to move. Trust in my timing and plans. Stop hesitating and just go, right? Surrender that one thing. I'm going to close this one out. I'm going to pray. Heavenly Father, I thank you for your perfect timing and your plans. Forgive us for the times we've rushed ahead or hesitated when you called us to act. Teach us to trust you completely, knowing that your ways are always higher and better than ours. Help us to wait with patience and to act with courage when the timing is right.

25:05 In Jesus' name, amen. All right. I want to thank you for joining me on this episode of The Games We Play With God. Today's message encourages you to share with a friend, subscribe so you won't miss the next episode where we will talk about the games, game number 12, rejecting God's correction. Until next time, stay on time, stay patient, stay faithful, and be blessed.