Trust God's Timing

Have you ever found it hard to trust in God’s timing? Maybe you’re out of work and need a way to pay your bills. You search high and low for jobs, but nothing turns up, and your next credit card payment is looming, along with other bills. You ask God for help, but there’s no apparent answer to your prayers. What are you supposed to do?

The answer is that we have to wait on God’s timing. Whether you’ve lost a job, have a serious illness, or are in another challenging situation, God’s timing is perfect. But it’s hard to see that when you’re in the midst of difficult circumstances.

Thankfully, the Bible offers many examples of God’s timing and provision. There is no trivial verse in the Bible; each can teach us about God and His perfect timing. Today’s post explores John 7:1-9, a passage that takes us to a crucial moment in Jesus' life. Before we examine its deeper meaning, let's take a look at the setting and events leading up to this passage.

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

The Setting of John 7:1-9

The Setting of John 7:1-9

This passage follows the feeding of the five thousand and Jesus’ teaching that He is the bread of life. These scriptures also start the last six months of Jesus’ ministry. It also follows the healing of the paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda, which was done on the Sabbath. (John 5:1-15)

The Jewish leaders told the healed man it was not lawful for him to carry his bed on the Sabbath. They asked him who had healed him on the Sabbath and the man later told the leaders it was Jesus. From that time on, the Jewish leaders began to persecute Jesus. They were angry that He had flouted their interpretations of the Law and called Himself the Son of God. So, Jesus was staying out of Judea and walking in Galilee to avoid the Jewish leaders.

The location of this passage is set in Galilee and takes place during increasing tension and danger for Jesus. He chose to stay in Galilee to avoid the Jewish leaders who were trying to kill Him.

During this time, the Feast of Tabernacles was about to be celebrated in Jerusalem. The feast drew many Jews to Jerusalem to celebrate and worship during the feats. The city was crowded with worshipers from all over who came to celebrate.

The Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot) is one of the three main Jewish pilgrimage festivals, along with Passover and Pentecost. This was a time to celebrate and commemorate the Israelites’ wandering in the desert and God’s provision for them.

During the feast, the people built temporary shelters (tabernacles) and celebrated with proscribed offerings, prayers, and festive activities. The feast lasted for seven days.

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee; for He did not want to walk in Judea, because the Jews sought to kill Him.

John 7:1 NKJV

While Jesus was in Galilee, He continued His ministry by teaching and performing miracles. He had a large following of people; this fact, along with His teachings and miracles, made Him a controversial figure. His miracles and claims about His divine nature provoked admiration from some and hostility from others, especially the Jewish religious leaders. Many of the people in Jerusalem were talking about Jesus.

This passage also shows us an interaction between Jesus and his brothers. His brothers suggested Christ should go to Judea so His disciples could see His works more openly, even though they knew the Jewish leaders were persecuting Jesus. The brothers’ suggestion reflects their skepticism and possible misunderstanding of Jesus’ mission. They imply that Jesus should seek public recognition and validation. They didn’t understand His divine purpose and timing.

In this setting, we learn there is much tension around Jesus’ ministry and that He’s in great danger. While His brothers understand His mission differently, Jesus remains wise and patient. He adheres to God’s timing rather than yielding to human pressure and expectations.

Against this backdrop, we can learn the lessons of trusting God’s timing, understanding God’s plan, and navigating external pressures with faith. 

Pressure from Others

In John 7:1-9, Jesus is facing pressure from an unexpected source—His own brothers. They urged Him to leave Galilee and go to Judea for the Feast of Tabernacles. Christ’s brothers suggested He should perform miracles openly to gain more followers.

Remember that at the end of chapter 6, we saw Jesus lose many followers and some disciples. They could not understand His sayings, especially those about eating and drinking His flesh. So, the brothers may have been trying to gain more followers for Jesus.

At this point, John 7:3-5 NKJV, “His brothers therefore said to Him, ‘Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.’ For even His brothers did not believe in Him” This shows us that Christ’s brothers didn’t completely understand who He was or His mission.

Jesus’ brothers viewed His miracles and teachings through a worldly lens, thinking that public displays of power were necessary for gaining recognition and proving His legitimacy. This reflects a common misunderstanding—judging spiritual purposes by worldly standards. Jesus, however, was focused on fulfilling His divine mission according to God’s timing, not on seeking human approval or fame.

Many of Christ’s followers saw Him as an earthly, political king who would help them overthrow Roman rule. They believed He would set up a Jewish kingdom in Israel. They also had political ambitions and thought about how they could personally benefit from Christ’s kingship. Perhaps Jesus’ brothers were thinking this way, too, though we can’t know for sure.

Next, the brothers reveal that they are skeptical of Jesus’ ministry. Here, we come to John 7:5 NKJV, which says, “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.” Their skepticism and unbelief probably came from their familiarity with Jesus. They grew up with Him and had difficulty seeing beyond their seemingly “ordinary” brother. They were unable to recognize Him as the Son of God.

How does this apply to our lives? Have you ever experienced pressure from family or friends to take on a particular job or task? You may have recognized that it wasn’t what God had in mind for you. Yet, your loved ones urged you to take the step they thought was best.

This is the same situation Jesus faced with His brothers. While this can be frustrating for us, see how Jesus responded to His brothers. He says, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil.”

We may find it hard to wait for the right job. Family and friends may think us crazy for passing up work when we have responsibilities to take care of (such as bills). But we must follow God’s will, not our own or that of our loved ones. 

How to Wait for God’s Timing

When times are tough, it’s tempting to jump into any solution that presents itself. However, that solution may not be part of God’s plan.

Consider Zechariah and Elizabeth, the parents of John the Baptist (cousin of Jesus). This couple was righteous before the Lord. They faithfully followed His commandments and were blameless before Him. However, they didn’t have any children. Elizabeth was barren, and both of them were elderly.

Think of how long they waited for a child. But then, one day, Zachariah was visited by an angel who said he and Elizabeth would have a son. Can you imagine how they felt? You can read their story in Luke 1:1-23.

This couple must have wondered when and if they would ever have a child. You can bet they prayed to God to bless them with kids, yet He did not answer their prayers at the time. But God did answer their prayers at the right time.

God also sent Jesus at the right time. As it says in Galatians 4:4, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law.” The coming of Jesus and John the Baptist was at the right time in God’s plan. They could not have come before or after that time. This timing was part of God’s perfect plan of redemption through the Messiah.

As we wait for God’s perfect timing in our lives, it’s crucial to keep praying for God’s will. Ask Him to show us what to do by shining a light on our path. We may not hear an answer for quite some time, but we must wait. 

But as we wait, we must do what we can to handle our responsibilities. Maybe we need to take a job we don’t like to keep food on the table and pay the bills. This could be part of God’s plan—what you learn in that job can help you in the future. In the meantime, you can count on God to answer your prayers because He has promised to do so. We have to be patient and faithful, trusting that He knows best and that He will answer our prayers at the right time--His time. Our Father never fails us.

Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.

Psalm 37:5-6 NKJV

Check out our Bible study on John 7:1-9 at our Gumroad shopGumroad shop. You’ll find study questions, questions for reflection, opening & closing prayers, and an outline of the passage to help you better understand the lessons we can learn from this passage. The study can be used for individual or group Bible studies. I’ve also included some bonus material on the Feast of the Tabernacles! 

God bless, 

PS If you'd like to find apps for prayer, Bible study, etc., head over to our Resources page!