Turn: Trusting God’s Timing

@JeanneTakenaka +Jeanne Takenaka

Our Five Minute Friday prompt this week is—TURN. This largely unedited “rough draft” form of writing stretches this perfectionist, in the best of ways. We write for five minutes on a given word. If you’re interested in learning more about 5-Minute Fridays, check out the Five Minute Friday website. Or, click on the link at the bottom of this post. As you read my simpler Friday posts, I hope you’ll join in the conversation!

TURN

A couple of months ago, I was rounding a clover leaf turn to enter the highway. I may have been taking it a little bit fast, but I’d done it at this speed many times before. 

All of a sudden, it was like the wheels were slipping . . . I braked and the vehicle began sliding toward the other side of the road, and moving toward tipping over the edge. 

I sent out one of those arrow prayers . . . and navigated as carefully as I could with no sudden movements of the steering wheel. I (being a vain thing) wondered what the driver behind me was thinking. 

Seriously though, every time I take that turn now? I am driving below the speed limit.

As I considered tonight’s word, I realized there are other life curves I take too fast. And when I do that, I begin to slip across the road and onto the edge. I don’t want to tip over. 

I push against God’s timing for my writing journey. I want my boys to be more mature than they actually are. 

They are boys, after all. TEEN boys.

I want things to happen at a certain speed. 

Basically? I want control. 

When I try to speed up God’s timing, I always end up disappointed. Sometimes I end up hurt as I drive myself off the turn lane and into the ditch.

I’m learning I need to be still before the Lord. To trust His timing.

He knows what my publishing journey needs to look like. 

He knows the lessons my boys are internalizing that will lead them toward a healthy adulthood. He knows the best timing for everything in my life. Every desire in my heart—if/when it should be fulfilled.

When I take life at God’s speed, I find it much more peaceful. Not always easy, but definitely less stress-filled.

Trusting the Lord to bring about things in my life has been one of the hardest, slowest, most-soul-filling life lessons. 

What about you? When have you found yourself taking life’s curves too quickly and what did God teach you? What helps you trust God’s timing in your life?

Click to Tweet: When I try to speed up God’s timing, I always end up disappointed.

I’m linking up with Five Minute Friday—Turn