Perfect Pace

“At the right time, I, the Lord, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22b NLT

“The trees!” I exclaimed aloud to myself as I drove past a parking lot that was lined with some of my favorite trees. I don’t often speak to myself out loud in the car, but it seemed warranted on this occasion. I drive this route frequently, and there trees are always a bright spot in the midst of this mostly developed stretch of suburbia. They are particularly beautiful in the fall. Or they were. I am thankful the developers waited until after last fall to cut the trees down, although I doubt that was their goal. It’s more likely that the timing simply fit their plan for “progress.” I felt sad and frustrated when I drove by and saw the trees lying on the ground.

I have lived in this area all my life, and I have seen a lot of development or “progress” as some call it. It doesn't always seem like it’s for the better though, like the loss of these trees. ‘I just want it to slow down,’ I thought to myself. And then, another thought followed… ‘Isn’t it funny how you usually want this kind of progress to slow down, but you always want God to hurry up?’ 

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. —2 Peter 3:9 NIV

There have been plenty of times in my life when I have wanted, even pleaded with, God to hurry up, as if I had a better idea of what the pace of progress should be in a particular situation. How quickly I forget that God always knows the perfect pace. “God’s perfect time” is inscribed in my wedding band, and I’ve been thankful to have that reminder literally close at hand as my husband and I have faced the challenges of life together.

As I write this now, I recognize God’s faithfulness in teaching me about His pace, and His gracious patience in that teaching. Just as Jacob tells Esau that he will travel at “the pace of the children” in Genesis 33:14, perhaps God has sometimes moved a little slower, so I would not fall behind. Whatever the pace, I can trust God to make everything beautiful in its time (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. —Habakkuk 2:3 NIV

God has also been teaching me that His plan for progress is quite different from the world’s. Oftentimes, Kingdom progress is marked by slowing down, not speeding up, and growing in dependence rather than independence. I am certain that the breakneck pace of our society is not what God intended for us, though it took years for me to realize that.

We find precedent for rest and Sabbath with the Lord throughout scripture (Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11, Isaiah 30:15, Isaiah 58:13-14, Jeremiah 6:16, Matthew 11:28-30, Mark 2:27, and Mark 6:31 to name a few). Sabbath time was designed to give us rest and refreshment through time with the Lord, and I don’t believe we’re supposed to be finished with that just because we don’t live in Old Testament times. Recently, I learned that this is a very hot take for some through a worship leader group thread. Some believe practicing any semblance of Sabbath is being a slave to the Mosaic Law. We may not live under the Law anymore, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need rest or that God is done refreshing us. Jesus modeled rest and communing with the Father amid the progress of ministry and life, and we can enjoy this rest and communion, too, through the finished work of Christ. Sabbath rest and our weekly pace may look different in 2026, but I believe it’s a large part of how we abide in Christ and stay connected to the Father. I heard a quote once that said we should be living our lives at the pace of Jesus, which was roughly 3 mph since he walked everywhere. This is definitely something to consider as we go through life. And the amount of time Jesus lingered with the Father should be a standard we work towards, both as individuals and the body of Christ. 

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. —Lamentations 3:25-26 NIV

Thinking about progress and the pace of life made me think about the pace of other things as well, like healing and grieving. These are two areas where the pace of progress can seem very slow and areas where the actual time needed for them is often unsupported by society’s pace. We often feel pressure to be healed or get over loss quickly and make progress in a linear fashion. Anyone who has needed physical or emotional healing knows this is almost never how it works. Usually there are good days and bad days—a back and forth for days, months, or even years. Eventually, we may be able to see that there is a general upward trend even though there have been many days that felt like setbacks. Still, I think we often feel “behind” or like we aren’t trying hard enough when we don’t get there faster.

You are likely familiar with the story of the woman who touched the hem of Jesus’ robe (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, and Luke 8:43-48). The Bible tells us she was healed the instant she touched it, but it also tells us she had suffered for twelve years before that. Her complete healing happened in an instant, but her healing journey spanned more than a decade. I wonder if she had some days that were better than others, and if on the better days, she thought ‘maybe today is the day I will finally get better.’ If so, I can imagine her disappointment when she realized the healing hadn’t arrived. In my own life, I’ve had some health conditions that took a while to resolve. Some weeks felt like one step forward, fourteen steps back, but somewhere along the way I could see that I was still farther along than when I started.

The pace of progress in physical healing can be incredibly challenging, and I think the same is true of grieving. Relief never comes as quickly or as completely as we would like. It seems like society often has unspoken rules for how long we can be sad about something. Sometimes we may feel like we have to pretend it has passed and put on a brave face for others. I think most grief won’t fully be healed this side of Heaven—where we are promised there will be no more tears (Revelation 2:14). But I do know that God works things for good, and He won’t let what feels like a slow journey toward emotional or physical healing go to waste. It is often in the perceived slowness that He shows us how much He loves us.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

Friend, maybe you are waiting on God to move, praying (or pleading) for some sign of progress in whatever you are facing. You are not alone, and you are loved more than you can fathom. Lamentations 3 reminds us that “because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed” and that God is faithful with new mercies everyday (verses 22 and 23 NIV). God is with you in the midst of the waiting, the healing, and the grieving. You are not behind, and neither is God. You can count on God to set the exact, right pace for progress in your life; He loves you far too much to do it any other way. May you rest in that today. Amen.