How can we discern God's timing in our lives, as seen in John 7:36? Setting the scene John 7 takes place during the Feast of Tabernacles. Jesus is teaching publicly, yet “no one laid a hand on Him, because His hour had not yet come” (John 7:30). The religious leaders grumble, “What is this statement that He said, ‘You will look for Me, and you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come’?” (John 7:36). His words reveal a divinely fixed timetable: the cross, resurrection, and ascension would arrive exactly when the Father decreed, not a moment sooner. What John 7:36 shows about God’s timing • Jesus speaks with certainty about an appointed departure: the leaders cannot change it, accelerate it, or follow Him before the Father allows. • Their confusion underscores a human limitation—we often grasp events only after God’s moment arrives (John 13:7). • The verse echoes Jesus’ earlier statement, “My time has not yet come” (John 7:6), highlighting the contrast between human impatience and divine scheduling. Biblical principles for discerning God’s timing • God alone sets the calendar – “My times are in Your hands” (Psalm 31:15). – “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority” (Acts 1:7). • Every purpose has a season – “For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). • He acts in the “fullness of time” – “When the time had fully come, God sent His Son” (Galatians 4:4). – Habakkuk 2:3 affirms that the appointed time “will certainly come and will not delay.” • Obedience aligns us with His schedule – Jesus moved only when the Father directed (John 5:19). – Immediate obedience keeps us ready for the next step (Luke 17:10). Practical ways to discern God’s timing today 1. Stay anchored in Scripture • Regular reading tunes the heart to recognize patterns of divine timing. 2. Cultivate sensitivity through prayer and quiet listening • Elijah heard God in a gentle whisper, not the wind or fire (1 Kings 19:12). 3. Watch for providential indicators • Open and closed doors (Revelation 3:7), unforeseen delays, or sudden opportunities often signal His calendar. 4. Seek wise counsel • “Plans succeed through many counselors” (Proverbs 15:22). 5. Evaluate motives • Ask whether a desire springs from faithfulness or impatience (James 4:3). 6. Embrace patience • Waiting is active trust, not inactivity (Isaiah 40:31). 7. Obey what is already clear • Light for the next step usually comes after we walk in the light we have (Psalm 119:105). Encouragement for the journey Jesus’ hour arrived precisely when the Father ordained, accomplishing redemption for all who believe. The same sovereign hand guides each believer’s steps. When circumstances seem stalled or rushed, rest in the certainty that He is never late, never early—always perfectly on time. |
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