God is Unhurried: Trusting the Slow Work of Faith

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Timing Is Not Our Timing

God’s sense of time is vastly different from ours; while we often feel impatient or anxious waiting for answers, God is never late or early—He is always right on time, working patiently for our good and for the fulfillment of His promises. In a world obsessed with speed and instant results, we are reminded that God’s patience is an expression of His love, giving us space to grow, repent, and trust Him more deeply. When we feel like we’re waiting endlessly, we can rest assured that God is not wasting our time but is instead shaping us through the process, teaching us to trust in His perfect schedule. [38:11]

2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV)
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Reflection: Where in your life are you feeling impatient with God’s timing, and how might you practice trusting that His delays are actually opportunities for growth and transformation?

Day 2: The Kingdom Grows Slowly, Like a Seed

The work of God in our lives and in the world is often compared to the slow, steady growth of a seed—unseen at first, but gradually developing into something strong and fruitful. Just as a farmer cannot rush the growth of crops, we cannot rush the spiritual growth God is cultivating in us; it takes time, patience, and trust that what is buried in faith will one day break through. The process may seem slow or hidden, but every stage matters, and God is faithful to bring about a harvest in His time. [40:22]

Mark 4:26-29 (ESV)
And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to trust God’s slow, steady work, even when you can’t see immediate results?

Day 3: Faith Is Rooted in Patience and Perseverance

True faith is not about instant results but about remaining rooted and steadfast through seasons of waiting, trusting that God is working beneath the surface even when we see no visible change. Like a garden that grows inch by inch, our faith is strengthened as we continue to show up, pray, and trust, believing that nothing planted in faith is ever wasted. The slow seasons teach us to hope without evidence, to rest when nothing seems to be happening, and to believe that God is faithful to finish what He started. [42:45]

James 5:7-8 (ESV)
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

Reflection: How can you intentionally “stay planted” in your faith this week, even if you feel like you’re not seeing progress?

Day 4: God’s Delays Are Discipleship, Not Denial

When God seems to delay, it is not because He has forgotten or denied us, but because He is using the waiting to shape our character, deepen our trust, and transform us from the inside out. The journey of faith is a process, and often the most important growth happens in the hidden, quiet, and sometimes frustrating seasons where we learn to trust God without immediate answers. God’s timing is always purposeful, and He is more interested in our lifelong transformation than in quick fixes or overnight success. [47:04]

Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Reflection: Think of a time when God’s “delay” led to unexpected growth or blessing in your life—how might that memory encourage you in your current season of waiting?

Day 5: Rest in God’s Rhythm and Trust the Journey

God invites us to rest in the rhythm of His grace, to trust that He is in the driver’s seat and will get us where we need to go, right on time. Instead of anxiously demanding updates or rushing the process, we are called to enjoy the journey, to find peace in the waiting, and to believe that God is faithful to finish what He started. When we are tempted to ask, “Are we there yet?” we can remember that God’s presence goes with us in every season, and His timing is always perfect. [50:25]

Philippians 1:6 (ESV)
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Reflection: What would it look like for you to “enjoy the scenery” of your current journey with God, trusting that He will bring you to the right destination in His perfect timing?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we gathered in the midst of blustery winds and shifting weather—a fitting backdrop for reflecting on the unpredictable pace of life. As we entered into worship, we were reminded of God’s nearness: the Creator of the universe who knows each of us by name, who counts the very hairs on our heads, and who invites us to lay our burdens at His throne and trust Him to carry them. Too often, we pick those burdens back up, but today, we resolved to leave them with Him, trusting in His care and timing.

Our focus turned to the nature of time and God’s unhurried ways. Life often feels like a race, with days that drag and years that fly by. We live in a culture obsessed with speed—instant food, instant answers, instant everything. Yet, God’s timing is not our timing. As Peter writes, “With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” God is not slow; He is patient, working out His promises in ways that often defy our expectations.

Jesus’ parables about seeds and growth in Mark 4 remind us that the kingdom of God grows slowly, like a garden, not instantly like an app. Seeds take time to sprout, and faith takes time to mature. Our own church’s journey reflects this truth: planted just before the world shut down in 2020, we have seen slow but steady growth—one soul, one Sunday at a time. The fruit we see now is the result of years of faithful planting, watering, and waiting.

God’s delays are not denials; they are opportunities for discipleship. He is not interested in making us faster, but in making us more faithful. The slow work of God transforms us from the inside out, teaching us to trust without proof, to hope without evidence, and to rest even when nothing seems to be happening. When we are tempted to ask, “Are we there yet?” God invites us to trust His timing, to enjoy the journey, and to believe that He will finish what He started—right on time.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Timing Is Perfect, Not Rushed God’s sense of time is radically different from ours. While we crave quick fixes and instant results, God works patiently, cultivating growth and transformation at a pace that is best for us. His delays are not signs of neglect but of deep care, ensuring that what He plants in us matures fully and bears lasting fruit. [38:32]
2. Faith Grows Slowly, Like a Seed Spiritual growth is a process, not a sprint. Just as seeds take time to sprout and mature, our faith develops through seasons of waiting, watering, and trusting. The slow, steady work of God in our lives forms deep roots, making us resilient and fruitful in due season. [42:45]
3. God’s Delays Are Opportunities for Discipleship When God seems slow to answer, He is actually inviting us into deeper trust and dependence. These waiting seasons are not wasted; they are where our character is shaped, our hope is refined, and our relationship with Him is strengthened. What feels like a pause is often preparation for greater things. [47:04]
4. Trust the Journey, Not Just the Destination We often focus on reaching the next milestone, but God calls us to find joy and peace in the journey itself. By letting go of our need for constant updates and control, we can rest in the assurance that God is leading us, and that He will bring us to the right place at the right time. [50:25]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:53] - Battling the Wind and Weather
[01:41] - Opening Prayer and Worship
[20:53] - Envisioning God’s Holiness
[21:40] - Laying Burdens at God’s Throne
[23:13] - Announcements and Community Life
[33:08] - Reflections on Dust and Planting
[34:15] - God Is Unhurried: Introduction
[35:39] - The Strange Nature of Time
[36:22] - “The Days Are Long, the Years Are Short”
[37:52] - 2 Peter: God’s Timing and Patience
[40:03] - Parables of Seeds and Growth
[42:45] - Faith Grows Slowly and Deeply
[43:59] - Living Word’s Journey: Planting and Growth
[45:38] - God’s Slow Work in Our Lives
[47:04] - Delays as Discipleship
[49:12] - Jesus’ Words on Understanding Later
[50:25] - Trusting God’s Timing on the Journey
[51:21] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

2 Peter 3:8-9 (ESV) — > But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Mark 4:26-32 (ESV) — > And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
>
> And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

John 13:7 (ESV) — > Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.”

Observation Questions

According to 2 Peter 3:8-9, how does God’s sense of time differ from ours? What does Peter say about God’s patience?
In Mark 4:26-32, what does Jesus compare the kingdom of God to, and what does this teach us about how God works?
The sermon mentioned that “God is not slow; He is patient, working out His promises in ways that often defy our expectations.” What examples from everyday life did the pastor use to illustrate our impatience with time? [[39:30]]
What did Jesus mean when He told His disciples, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but later you will understand”? [[49:12]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Peter emphasizes that “with the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day”? How might this perspective help us when we feel like God is taking too long to answer our prayers? [[38:32]]
In the parables of the seed and the mustard seed, what is Jesus teaching about the nature of spiritual growth and the kingdom of God? How does this challenge our desire for quick results? [[40:03]]
The sermon said, “God’s delays aren’t denials. They’re discipleship.” How can waiting on God actually shape our character and faith? [[47:04]]
The pastor shared about the slow growth of the church, planted just before the pandemic. What does this story reveal about trusting God’s timing, even when circumstances seem to say otherwise? [[43:25]]

Application Questions

The pastor said, “So many times we come before you and we place those burdens there and then when we get back up we pick them up and take them with us. Not today, Lord, not today—we’re going to leave them at the throne.” What is one burden you keep picking back up after giving it to God? What would it look like to truly leave it with Him this week? [[22:24]]
Our culture is obsessed with speed—instant food, instant answers, instant everything. In what areas of your life do you find yourself most impatient? How does this impatience affect your relationship with God and others? [[39:30]]
The sermon compared faith to seeds that grow slowly and deeply. Can you think of a time in your life when spiritual growth felt slow or invisible? What helped you stay rooted during that season? [[42:45]]
“God is not interested in making us faster, but in making us more faithful.” What is one area where you sense God is inviting you to slow down and trust Him more? [[45:38]]
When have you experienced a “delay” from God that later turned out to be a time of preparation or growth? How did your perspective change looking back? [[47:04]]
The pastor encouraged us to “trust the journey, not just the destination.” What is one way you can find joy or peace in the process you’re in right now, instead of just waiting for the next milestone? [[50:25]]
Jesus said, “You do not understand now what I am doing, but later you will.” Is there something in your life right now that you don’t understand? How can you practice trusting God with it, even without answers? [[49:12]]

Sermon Clips

Meanwhile, we're out here in this world, a world that worships speed, fast things, instant food that comes to you within minutes, instant coffee in an emergency situation. I wouldn't recommend it otherwise. Instant streaming. We want two-day shipping and one-click salvation and 30-second miracles. If it takes longer than 10 seconds to load, we're lifting our hands up to the air saying, Lord, deliver me from this buffering. But God doesn't do instant. He still works on seed time and harvest time. [00:39:16] (44 seconds) #NoInstantMiracles

You don't rush the soil. You respect it. Those things that are good are worth waiting for. And that's how she lived. And that's how our faith grows. Slow. Steady. Deeply. Rooted. [00:42:32] (17 seconds) #ChurchesGrowLikeGardens

Because churches don't pop up like apps. They grow like gardens. We didn't start a church. We planted a church. And they grow one soul, one seed, one Sunday at a time. [00:44:28] (18 seconds) #MoreTechLessPatience

We've trained our bodies to live fast. But our souls, they can't keep up. And God, thank goodness, He doesn't work on our schedule. He's not trying to make us faster. He's trying to make us more faithful. And that's why He grows us slowly. He's not interested in overnight successes. He's interested in lifelong transformation. [00:45:27] (31 seconds) #MindCatchesUpWithHeart

It took us a while to get where we are. It's going to take us a while to get out of that. I read about a woman who lost 100 pounds in seven months online. And that's incredible. It's amazing. But she said it took her years for her brain to catch up with her body. She'd still reach for the wrong size clothes when she went shopping. Or look in the mirror and still see that old self. And I thought, yep, that's how God works on us. He changes our hearts. But our minds, they need time. They need time to catch up. [00:45:58] (37 seconds) #GodsDelaysAreDiscipleship

I used to believe that God was faithful because I read it. Now I know God is faithful because I know that God is faithful. I've seen him come through in my life and in your life. Usually it's right after I panic. It turns out he's never late. I'm just impatient. [00:47:30] (20 seconds) #SlowSeasonsTeachTrust

And Peter said that the Lord is not slow as some understand slowness. What we call waiting, God calls working. And he's not wasting your time. He's growing your faith. [00:47:50] (15 seconds) #StayPlantedKeepGrowing

Jesus said in john 13 uh i think verse 7 and yes i've learned and retained a lot from our bible study on john so you you need to to understand that that's important he says you do not understand speaking to the disciples you do not understand now what i am doing but later you will that later always comes and when it does you'll see that that every quiet hidden frustrating season was actually the setup for fruit jesus didn't say it's not going to happen he said not yet. [00:49:05] (40 seconds) #TrustTheJourneyNotTheETA

The great thing about god is this he's never early sharon complains because i get there early in the military they taught me 15 minutes is on time 15 minutes before is on time on time is late and so i'm there early god is never early he's never late he's always right on time so if you're sitting in the back seat of life right now tapping your foot and asking are we there yet relax he's in the driver's seat he knows where he's going he knows what he's doing and he knows exactly when we'll get there. [00:49:45] (41 seconds)

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