There is a delicate thread woven through the fabric of all wise decisions—timing.
Many of us have been taught to recognize what is right and to courageously pursue it. Yet, one of life’s subtle teachers reminds us that doing the right thing at the wrong time can produce an entirely wrong outcome. Timing is not just an add-on to wisdom—it is often its silent partner.
Timing has a mysterious way of revealing whether our intentions align with the rhythms of life. We may speak a needed truth, but if it is spoken in haste or in the heat of another’s brokenness, it may do more harm than good. A gentle word, wrongly timed, can pierce deeper than a harsh one rightly delayed.
Scripture teaches that there is a time for everything—a time to speak, a time to be silent, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain. What this means is that discernment of timing is not just a matter of instinct, but of spiritual sensitivity. It requires us to listen deeply—not just to others, but to the voice within and to the stillness where God speaks.
Sometimes, we must pause—not out of fear, but out of wisdom. The delay may be uncomfortable, but it may allow hearts to soften, situations to mature, or clarity to emerge. On other occasions, the timing demands swiftness—a door that must be entered before it shuts.
Understanding timing teaches us:
- That patience is not passivity, but preparation.
- That haste can lead to regret, even when motives are pure.
- That sometimes, waiting is the most courageous act of all.
In the school of wisdom, may we become students of timing. Before every decision, let us ask: Is now the moment? If not, may we trust that in waiting, we are not wasting—but aligning with something greater than ourselves.