Daily Devotionals
Building a Better Future

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Building a Better Future

Trust God’s Timing for Your Dreams

By Rick Warren — 11/10/2026

“There is a right time and a right way to do everything.” Ecclesiastes 8:6 (GNT)

A God-given dream doesn’t always require immediate attention. The Bible says, “There is a right time and a right way to do everything” (Ecclesiastes 8:6 GNT).

Pitchers understand the importance of timing in baseball. Every pitcher throws the same 5¼-ounce ball and stands the same 60 feet, 6 inches from home plate. But the difference between a pro pitcher and an amateur is timing. A pitcher’s timing can make or break a baseball game.

Another good example of timing is found in Nehemiah 2. Nehemiah knew timing could make or break his dream to rebuild Jerusalem. He could have made a grand entrance into town with trumpets and flags, announcing the reason for his arrival: “I’m here to save the day!”

Instead, Nehemiah stayed quiet for three days after arriving in Jerusalem. What was he doing those first three days? Since he was a man of prayer, there’s no doubt he was praying. He was also a planner, so he likely spent time watching, listening, and learning.

The best example of timing is seen in the life of Jesus. His timing was perfect. He would often say things like, “It’s not my time yet.” He said this to his mother when she looked to him to do a miracle at a wedding. And he said it to his brothers when they wanted him to show himself to the world through the works he was doing.

And God waited thousands of years for just the right time to send his Son. The Bible says, “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children” (Galatians 4:4-5 NLT). 

We don’t know why God sent Jesus when he did, but we do know his timing was perfect. Nehemiah’s life also shows us how important the right timing is to success.

The same is true of the dreams God gives you. Trust his timing. You may not understand it right now, but you can trust that his plan is perfect.

Talk It Over

  • Have you ever seen a good idea ruined because of bad timing? What happened?

  • In what areas of your life do you act impulsively? In what areas are you more patient?

  • How does Jesus’ willingness to say, “It’s not my time yet,” encourage you to do things at the right time and in the right way?


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