By Chris Simpson
In the Scriptures we read that God promised His people if they walked in His ways, He would give them “rain in its season” – and with it, the fruitfulness of the land (Leviticus 26:3-4). Not instant reward. Not on-demand outcomes. But blessing, in its appointed time, according to what was fitting, according to His divine wisdom. This truth still governs the marketplace today.
God does not operate according to our calendars or expectations. His actions are never delayed, never rushed, never misaligned. He moves in absolute harmony with His will, according to what is fitting in the scope of eternity. And that is deeply uncomfortable for us. We are trained to measure value by deadlines and deliverables. We prize speed. We reward early achievement. But God is not bound by our urgency. His promises are not transactions; they are covenantal promises. His timing is not mechanical; it is precise. And His movements are not arbitrary; they are appropriate.
This is the test of faith for every leader: Are we willing to yield not only our ambitions but also our expectations? Much of our frustration in leadership and life does not stem from failure; it stems from mistimed desire. We demand results on our schedule and call it “vision.” But what if the waiting is not punishment? What if it is preparation?
That is why patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). It is not a passive disposition. It is Holy Spirit-empowered endurance. God gives patience because He knows what we cannot see – how formation must precede fruit. How roots must deepen before harvest arrives. Waiting is not weakness. It is the strength to trust when everything in you wants to act. As Isaiah 40:31 promises: “They who wait for 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.”
Daniel Tan, a Christian agricultural engineer in Malaysia, spent years developing a low-cost irrigation tool to serve rural farmers. He believed it was from the Lord, an innovation to restore dignity and open doors for Gospel witness. But for five years there was nothing. Government delays. Lost funding. Silence in response to his prayers. Then, in year six, a non-government organization discovered Daniel’s prototype. Within months, the tool was in use across Southeast Asia, paired with biblical training on stewardship and the concept of hope. He later realized: The delay was not rejection, it was formation. God was not just preparing the product. He was preparing the man.
This is how God works. Always with precision. Always with purpose. “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son (Galatians 4:4). Jesus did not appear early or late. He came at the exact moment when roads, language, and hearts were ready for redemption through the life-transforming message. Not a second too soon. Not a second too late. God moves when it is fitting. His timing is flawless.
So, here is the question that confronts every marketplace disciple: Can your faith accommodate God’s timing? Can your prayers shift from “Lord, bless me now” to “Lord, shape my life, my work, and my family until the blessing You’ve prepared is truly fitting for me”? Are you willing to surrender not just your outcomes, but your calendar? The rain will come. The land will yield. But only in its season.
© 2025. Christopher C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, and their three children, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
- Can you think of a time in your life or leadership when a delay turned out to be exactly what was needed – and even more fruitful than what you had originally hoped for?
- Galatians 5:22 lists patience as a fruit of the Spirit. Why do you think patience is essential for spiritual maturity – especially in the marketplace?
- Daniel Tan’s story serves to remind us of how God sometimes forms the person before releasing the mission. In what ways might God be shaping you right now for something He has not yet revealed?
- Isaiah 40:31 says, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” What would it look like for you to surrender not just your outcomes, but your calendar?
NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Leviticus 26:3-4; Psalm 27:14; Ecclesiastes 3:1; Isaiah 40:31; Galatians 4:4, 5:22
Challenge for This Week
This week might be a good time for you to consider how you are in terms of patience, especially when it comes to being willing and able to wait upon God’s timing. Are you currently waiting to have a specific prayer – or prayers – answered? How do you think He might be using this time to prepare you and shape you into the person He wants you to be?
Share your need with a good friend, mentor, small group or some trusted advisors, asking for their wisdom and counsel – and for their prayers that you can remain faithful as you wait for God to answer your prayers “in its season.”
