Patience in Our Lives: Trusting God’s Perfect Timing

by Deon Jv Rensburg

When we first set our hearts on serving the Lord abroad, we believed with all our hearts that our destination was Ireland. We prayed fervently, planned diligently, and prepared faithfully, trusting that God was leading us there. Every step seemed to align, and we felt confident in the path ahead. Yet, as time passed, doors that once seemed wide open quietly began to close. Circumstances shifted. What once seemed certain became uncertain. It was a challenging season—a time of waiting, wondering, and wrestling with the “why.”

But through it all, the Lord was teaching us a vital lesson: patience in His perfect plan.

Now, as we prepare for ministry in Australia, we look back and see God's fingerprints in every twist and turn. Every delay was not a detour, but divine direction. Every redirection was not rejection, but refinement. He was never absent in the waiting. In fact, He was working most deeply in our hearts during the silence.

Scripture is filled with examples of those who had to wait on God, and whose stories reveal the richness that comes through trusting His timing.

Consider Abraham and Sarah. God promised them a son, yet 25 years passed before Isaac was born (Genesis 21:1-2). The delay wasn’t a denial—it was preparation for a miracle that would birth a nation. Though they stumbled in impatience, God's promise remained sure.

Or take Joseph, who endured betrayal by his brothers, slavery, and wrongful imprisonment. For 13 years, his life seemed to spiral away from the dreams God had given him. Yet, at the appointed time, God raised him to second-in-command in Egypt to save many lives (Genesis 50:20). His suffering was never wasted—it was shaping him for the purpose God had prepared.

And what about David? Anointed king as a young shepherd, he spent years fleeing from Saul, hiding in caves, and waiting for the throne that had already been promised. His psalms—many written during those wilderness years—cry out in longing but always return to trust:

"I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).

Our own journey echoes these stories. The visa process alone has been a lesson in patience. With each document submitted, every call or email to officials, and every seemingly long silence, we’ve had to surrender control. It’s tempting in those moments to ask, “Lord, when?” But over and over, He reminds us:

“My timing is never too early and never too late.”

Isaiah 40:31 promises:

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…”
Waiting on God isn’t passive—it is active dependence. It’s choosing to trust when we don’t yet see. It’s leaning into His promises when the path is unclear.

We’ve also drawn encouragement from Lazarus’ story in John 11. Jesus intentionally delayed coming to Bethany. From a human perspective, He was late. But in that delay, God revealed something greater: not just healing, but resurrection. What seemed like a missed opportunity became a display of divine glory.

So as we now step toward Australia, it’s not with pride in our perseverance, but with humble confidence in our God. We don’t go forward because we finally have all the answers—we go because we trust the One who does. His ways are higher, His plans are wiser, and His timing is perfect.

To anyone walking through a season of waiting:
God is not wasting your time—He is preparing you.
He may be protecting you from something unseen, growing your character, or positioning you for something beyond your imagination.

“Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:14)

We’re learning, day by day, that patience isn’t about passively enduring—it’s about actively trusting. And in that trust, we find joy, hope, and strength.

May we all learn to say, as the psalmist did:

“My times are in Thy hand…” (Psalm 31:15)