Just Right and Right on Time

“[God] does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing.” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NCV)

Fast is not always best.

In fact, impatience reveals a lack of trust. When I get impatient with God, I'm saying, “God, I don’t really trust you. I don’t think you have my best interests at heart. You don’t know how badly I need this, and I’m in a hurry!” I get worried and I get hurried because I don’t trust God to do it at the right time and in the right way.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3:11 that God “does everything just right and on time, but people can never completely understand what he is doing” (NCV). God has a plan for my life. But he also has a timetable for it—and he never has to explain his timing.

One of the most painful things in life is when I'm in a hurry and God is not. Part of growing up as a child is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet.” Part of growing in maturity as a follower of Jesus Christ is learning the same lesson with God: A delay is not a denial. God always knows the right time and the right way.

One day, the disciples asked Jesus when he would return to restore his kingdom on earth. Jesus told them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates. . . . But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8 NIV).

The disciples wanted to talk about prophecy, and God said, “Let’s talk about evangelism!” God wanted them to focus on what mattered most and leave the timing to him.

In Summary:

God operates on a perfect timetable, even when it doesn’t align with my own sense of urgency. Ecclesiastes 3:11 reminds me that while I may not fully understand God's ways, His timing is always right. Impatience, especially in my relationship with God, often stems from a lack of trust—believing He’s not moving fast enough or doesn't grasp my needs. But spiritual maturity means recognizing that “not yet” is not the same as “no.” Trusting God's timing requires faith that He knows what’s best, even when it feels delayed.

Jesus emphasized this when His disciples asked about the end times—He redirected them from speculation about timing to the importance of mission, encouraging them to focus on spreading the gospel (Acts 1:7–8). Similarly, God’s promises may take time to manifest, but as Habakkuk 2:3 assures, they will come at just the right moment. Rather than despairing over delays, I am called to trust, be patient, and stay focused on what matters most: living with purpose and sharing God’s love, knowing that His plan is unfolding exactly as it should.

Learning From Jesus’ Example

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:29 (NIV)

Nobody lived a more balanced and healthy life than Jesus. He wasn’t consumed with stress. He was never burdened with a heavy load. His life was a model for me on how to live with purpose and peace.

In Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (NIV). It’s as if he’s saying, “Study me. Watch how I do it.”

His answers to stress and anxiety include coming to him and taking on his yoke by giving up control. Next, he invites me to learn from him—this is the third solution to reducing stress.

Jesus doesn’t say, “Learn from me. I’ll teach you endurance and stamina, confidence and courage, or time management and goal setting.” He says, “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble.” He wants me to watch him and replicate what he did.

But learning from Jesus, following his example of gentleness and humility, doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a process that takes time. I must learn to reduce stress.

Two of the biggest causes of stress in life are arrogance and aggression. These are the opposites of humility and gentleness.

Aggression happens when I do things too quickly. I don’t wait or think things over. I just jump right in with both feet and I get over-committed.

Arrogance happens when I try to control everything. Arrogance is thinking I know what’s best and everyone’s lives would be easier if they followed my plan.

The truth is when I try to do it all, have it all, be it all, and experience it all, I'm living with an aggressive and arrogant attitude. I'm acting like superman. The antidote to aggression and arrogance is gentleness and humility—the kind of life Jesus modeled for me to live.

So how do I learn to be gentle and humble like Jesus? I learn to do it by growing my faith. And when my faith grows, my stress goes down.

How do I grow my faith? Faith grows by spending time in the Bible. The more I get God’s Word into my life, the more my faith will grow. The Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).

I need to hear the Word, read the Word, and think about the Word of God on a daily basis. If I do, my faith will increase, my stress will decrease, and my life will begin to look a lot more like Jesus’.

In summary:

Jesus offers a different path to peace and rest—one rooted not in striving, but in surrender. Matthew 11:29 invites me to learn from Jesus, who lived with gentleness and humility rather than stress and pressure. Instead of chasing productivity or control, He modeled a life of balance and dependence on God. His “yoke” is light not because life is easy, but because His way leads to inner rest. The key to reducing stress, according to his teaching, is not mastering time management but cultivating a humble and gentle spirit by following Jesus' example.

Two major causes of stress—arrogance and aggression—they stem from trying to do too much, too fast, or trying to control everything myself. These are the opposite of the peace Jesus offers. To move away from this mindset, I am called to grow my faith, which starts by continuing to spend regular time in God's Word. As I internalize Scripture, my trust in God grows, my need to control lessens, and my stress begins to fade. In short, a gentler, humbler, more Christlike life begins with deepening my relationship with Him through faith and the Bible.

Three Lies That Keep Me from Slowing Down

“It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind.” Ecclesiastes 4:6 (GNT)

When I'm ready to slow down my life, start with a self-assessment: What drives me to always push for more? Why do I need to have more money in my bank account or more achievements in my career? Why do I need to pack more activities in my schedule?

To help me answer those questions in today’s culture, consider if I’ve believed these three major lies that contribute to a fast-paced life.

The first lie is that having more will make me happier. 

Life is not about values or possessions. Jesus said, “What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36 NIV). There are lots of people who have plenty of things, but they’re still unhappy and unsatisfied with their lives.

The second lie is that doing more will make me more worthy.

If I get my work and my worth confused, I'm going to be stressed out and running on empty my entire life.

The Bible says in Ecclesiastes 4:6, “It is better to have only a little, with peace of mind, than be busy all the time with both hands, trying to catch the wind” (GNT). In other words, doing more won’t give me peace. It’s wiser to buy a smaller home or live on less of my income so I can have more time, more energy, more joy, and more peace of mind.

The third lie is that life is a competition with others.

I am not in competition with anybody. Why? Because I am unique, and God didn’t make me to be in competition with anyone. He wants me to be me. When I accept that and stop trying to be like others, it takes a lot of stress out of life.

Proverbs 14:30 says in the Living Bible paraphrase, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life; jealousy rots it away.” 

These three lies keep me from being content in life, which keeps me driving and striving—but never thriving.

To slow down my life, don’t just try to do less. Start with the heart. Slowing down comes not by clearing my calendar but by becoming content with what I have and who I am.

In summary:

It's important for me to choose peace over constant busyness and challenges the cultural pressures that push me to chase more—more money, achievements, and activities. It begins with a call for self-reflection: Why am I always pushing for more? It identifies three core lies that drive this restlessness. First, the belief that having more will make me happier—when in truth, many people with much still feel unfulfilled. Second, the idea that doing more will increase my worth—leading to burnout and emptiness. And third, the false notion that life is a competition—causing me to compare and strive unnecessarily, instead of embracing my unique identity.

Ecclesiastes 4:6 emphasizes that peace of mind is better than the exhausting pursuit of success and possessions. True contentment doesn’t come from achieving more but from shifting my heart—choosing simplicity, slowing my pace, and being grateful for what I already have. Rather than just reducing my workload, I'm encouraged to address the root of my restlessness: discontentment. By rejecting these lies and embracing a mindset of peace and purpose, I can live a more joyful and sustainable life.

Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger

“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19 (NIV)

Have you noticed how rarely you get to finish a sentence these days? We sometimes don’t even let others complete their sentences. We get angry easily and talk over each other all the time. You see it on talk shows. You hear it on podcast programs. You watch it on TV news, with three or four people talking at the same time and trying to make a point. But when everybody’s talking at once, nobody’s really listening.

How did we get here?

With a faster and more frantic speed of life, people have become more impatient. We’re so eager to speak our mind—or to just finish the conversation and move on to the next thing—that we’re not even interested enough in the other person and their perspective to hear them out.

The Bible says in James 1:19, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (NIV). Notice that if you do the first two—listen first and don’t speak right away—then the third is automatic. When you are quick to listen and slow to speak, you will be much less likely to become angry.

As parents, coworkers, neighbors, and spouses, it’s easy to lose our temper. Once our impatience starts to flare, it’s a quick trip to anger and conflict. 

But the Bible offers an effective way to combat anger in your life: Practice listening before you speak and working to understand the other person before you respond. When you do that, you will learn to deal with your anger.

If you think you don’t have an anger problem, you may just really be good at hiding it. When it comes to anger, everyone is either a skunk or a turtle. When they get angry, skunks stink up the whole place. Everybody knows they’re upset! Turtles, on the other hand, tend to pull back into their shells and internalize their anger. You may not see it, but it’s still boiling up inside.

Both skunks and turtles need to deal with their anger—they need to learn how to be quick to listen and slow to speak.

Be slow to speak, and you’ll be slow to anger. And by taking your time to respond, you’ll also be better able to really listen.

In summary:

In today’s fast-paced world, people have grown increasingly impatient, often speaking over one another without fully listening. This behavior is common in everyday conversations, media, and public discussions, where the need to quickly express opinions outweighs the willingness to hear others out. James 1:19 provides a remedy, urging me to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." When I prioritize listening and pause before responding, anger naturally diminishes, creating space for more thoughtful and respectful interactions.

Whether in families, workplaces, or communities, unchecked impatience often escalates into anger and conflict. Everyone experiences anger differently—some express it openly like skunks, while others internalize it like turtles—but both need to address it. By consciously practicing listening first and speaking later, I not only manage my own anger more effectively but also deepen my understanding of those around me. Slowing down my reactions will lead to healthier communication and stronger relationships.

Taking Back My Time

“If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you.” James 1:5 (GW)

God wants his children to get their proper rest. If I'm burning the candle at both ends, I'm not as bright as I think I am. I'm going to burn out!

Often I'm given more opportunities in one week than I could possibly take on in one month. I need to learn to manage my opportunities—because if I don’t, I'm going to drown in them. There are plenty of things I can do with my life that may not be worth doing.

When I'm faced with an opportunity, I need to take three steps.

First, ask, is it worth it? Is that opportunity worth my time, energy effort, reputation, and money? Is it worth my life? Every time I give myself to an activity, I'm exchanging my life for it. Why? Because my time is my life.

Second, understand what I'm going to have to give up. What will I give up in order to do this new thing?

Most of us know how to make a to-do list. The challenge is to make a what-matters-most list for my life. I need to decide what’s most important by asking God what matters most to him. This won’t just help me know what to put on my to-do list. It will also help me know what to take off my list. I recently encountered a trusted resource who talked about a "Stop Doing" list in which you learn to give some things over to others or just don't need to do. 

James 1:5 says, “If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you” (GW).

Third, learn to say “no.” I’ve become addicted to today’s speed of life, and it’s costing me my health, relationships, and my walk with God. I need to slow down by saying “no” to the things that don’t make the what-matters-most list. This is much like my "Decision Matrix" I developed a few months ago. I need to make sure I'm using it to decide how to spend my time so that I'm not wasting my life.

I know how to fill my time, but I'm not as good at taking it back. I don’t have time because I don’t make the time. And I make time by asking if it’s worth it, understanding what to give up, and then learning to say “no” to what hurts me in the long run. Only then will I have the wisdom to know what action to take with each new opportunity I face. 

Here are some questions to ponder today: What happens when I apply these three steps to the things that already fill your calendar? When I understand that my time is my life, how does it change my perspective on activities and opportunities? Of the opportunities I’ve been given, what do I think matters most to God?

In summary:

It's important for me to seek God's wisdom when making decisions, especially in a fast-paced world filled with endless opportunities. James 1:5 reminds me that if I lack wisdom, I should ask God, who generously gives it. Without proper rest and intentional decision-making, I risk burnout by overcommitting. Instead of simply filling my lives with tasks, I need to pause and evaluate whether each opportunity aligns with what truly matters. Time is a limited and valuable resource—essentially my life—and I must manage it wisely.

To do this, I can take three steps: first, ask if the opportunity is truly worth the investment of my time and energy. Second, understand what I will have to give up in order to pursue it. And third, learn to say “no” to things that don’t align with what matters most to God. Creating a "what-matters-most" list and even a "Stop Doing" list can help me filter out distractions. By applying these steps and using tools like my personal decision matrix, I can reclaim my time and live intentionally, focusing on what truly counts in both my life and my walk with God.

Deciding To Manage My Mind

“I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what.” Psalm 119:112 (CEV)

People who learn how to fight the battle in their minds live more effective lives.

If I want to learn to manage my mind, you have to be delivered from destructive thoughts. That isn’t easy because I'm n a battle with three enemies trying to control my thoughts. 

The first enemy is your old nature. Paul says in Romans 7:23, “There is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me” (NLT).

Do you ever find yourself doing things you don’t really want to do? That’s the battle in your mind between your old, sinful nature and your good intentions.

The second enemy is Satan. Satan cannot force you to do anything, but he can make suggestions. Those suggestions are incredibly powerful. He is constantly planting negative thoughts in your mind. He’ll use other people or what you watch on TV, or he’ll just throw a thought in your mind.

The third enemy is the world’s value system. Modern society rarely encourages self-discipline. Advertisements tell you things like, “You deserve a break today,” “Have it your way,” and “We do it all for you.” The Bible says in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world” (NIV).

With enemies like that, no wonder people struggle with discouragement, despair, and failure!

So how do you fight this battle? Look at what 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 says: “Though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (NIV).

You have a choice. God didn’t give you just a mind. He gave you a will too! Your mind has to listen to you. The Bible says, “I have made up my mind to obey your laws forever, no matter what” (Psalm 119:112 CEV).

In summary:

Managing your mind is essential to living a more effective and spiritually grounded life. The Bible highlights that we face a mental battle against three powerful enemies: our old sinful nature, Satan’s deceptive suggestions, and the world’s distracting value system. These forces can lead to inner conflict, negative thinking, and temptation. Paul describes this struggle in Romans, acknowledging how we often act against our better judgment due to the pull of sin. Satan plants destructive thoughts subtly through media, people, or spontaneous ideas. Meanwhile, the world promotes self-indulgence over discipline, making it even harder to stay spiritually focused.

However, God equips us with spiritual weapons to win this mental battle. As 2 Corinthians 10:3–5 explains, we are empowered to tear down strongholds and take control of our thoughts through divine strength. We’re not helpless—God gives us the ability to choose what we dwell on. With His help, we can intentionally direct our thoughts toward truth and obedience. Psalm 119:112 reminds us that committing to God’s ways, regardless of circumstances, is a powerful decision. It takes discipline and intentionality, but by choosing to obey God and taking every thought captive, we can overcome destructive thinking and live with clarity, peace, and purpose.

A Focused Life Is a Powerful Life

“Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac.”Genesis 24:4 (NLT)

There is nothing more powerful than a focused life. It’s kind of like light. Light that is unfocused and diffused has no power. But if I focus it with a magnifying glass, I can use it to start a fire. If I focus light even more, it becomes a laser that can cut through steel and kill cancer.

My life is like that. The more focused my life is, the more impact it will have and the more success I will have in reaching my goals.

The classic chapter in the Bible on success is Genesis 24. It’s the story of Abraham, Eleazar, Isaac, and Rebekah.

God had promised Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation, but Abraham had grown old, and his son Isaac still hadn’t married or had children. Abraham began to wonder how he would have a great nation without any grandchildren. So he made a plan.

He told his servant, Eleazar, “Go instead to my homeland, to my relatives, and find a wife there for my son Isaac” (Genesis 24:4 NLT).

So what in the world does this have to do with me?” Well, this happened thousands of years ago, but it has enormous implications for me today. If I have a goal to fulfill, a dream to reach, or a vision I want to become reality, Eleazar’s example will give me the steps to get there.

Eleazar’s life became focused when Abraham told him to go find a wife for Isaac. Once I decide to focus my life, what specifically do I do next? Where do I begin in chasing a big goal? 

Step one in fulfilling a dream is to determine my present position. To do that, I need to ask myself these two important questions: Where am I now? and What do I want to change?

I can’t figure out where I want to go until I know where I'm already at. I’ve got to know my present position. Along with that, I’ve got to assess my current condition. Like Abraham, I have to decide what I’d like to change. 

Determining my present position is the first step in the journey toward a focused life, toward success in the dreams I have for my life.

If I'm serious about chasing a dream God has given me, I can pray this:

God, give me wisdom to see what changes need to be made in my life. May the rest of my life be the best of my life. You say it’s up to me; I get a choice. You’re teaching me what to do. I don’t want to drift. I want to have direction. Help me to learn how to focus my life to fulfill the dreams you’ve given me. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

In summary:

A focused life holds immense power and potential, much like concentrated light that can ignite a fire or even cut through steel. In Genesis 24, Abraham's clear instruction to his servant Eleazar to find a wife for Isaac is a powerful example of living with intention and clarity. This ancient story serves as a blueprint for modern-day goal setting and success. Just as Eleazar’s purpose became clear through Abraham’s direction, I too must define what I'm aiming for if I want to achieve meaningful progress.

The first step toward fulfilling a dream is determining where I currently stand—understanding my present position and recognizing what I want to change. Without clarity on my starting point, it’s impossible to chart a course toward my goals. By asking questions like “Where am I now?” and “What do I want to change?” I lay the groundwork for intentional growth. When I seek God’s guidance and focus my life with purpose, I invite Him to transform my direction and empower myself to realize the dreams He’s placed in my heart.