The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Impatience

27 “I will send my terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn their backs and run. 28 I will send the hornet ahead of you to drive the Hivites, Canaanites and Hittites out of your way. 29 But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals too numerous for you. 30 Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.

31 “I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the desert to the Euphrates River. I will give into your hands the people who live in the land, and you will drive them out before you. 32 Do not make a covenant with them or with their gods. 33 Do not let them live in your land or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”

Exodus 23:27-33

If only God would always give us such clear explanations for his timing! What Israelite would have considered wild animal control as an important factor in the military plan for conquering the promised land? But God looked ahead and saw all the complications and roadblocks, and he adjusted his plan accordingly. We believe we’re great managers of our lives, but God knows better. He doesn’t always tell us the reasons for his timing. But he asks us to trust him. If you charge ahead of God in your plans, you may achieve initial success, but you may soon realize several significant problems you overlooked. So relax. Wait on his master plan.

Taken from Flourish: The NIV Bible for Women.