Running Ahead of God: A Lesson in Trusting His Timing

I want to talk about something that has been a significant learning point in my own life—running ahead of God. If we’re being honest, many of us have been guilty of this without even realizing it. Psalm 20 offers a vivid picture of what it means to fully trust in God’s strength rather than our own. Yet, despite knowing that we should trust God, there are moments when we find ourselves rushing forward, thinking we know what’s best.

I’ve been there, and maybe you have too—wanting so desperately to fulfill God’s purpose that we charge forward in our own strength. We pray and listen for His direction, but then we get impatient, thinking, “I’ve got this, God. I know what You want from me.” But when we try to do God’s work on our own terms, without waiting on His timing, the result is always the same—we burn out. We end up overwhelmed, frustrated, and exhausted, carrying a weight that was never ours to carry alone.

Psalm 20:4 says, “May He give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” That’s a verse many of us hold on to. We want our plans to succeed, but the truth is, our plans will only succeed when they are aligned with God’s will and His timing. It’s easy to get caught up in our desires, even good desires, but if we’re moving outside of His timing, we’re setting ourselves up for frustration.

I’ve lived this firsthand. There have been seasons where I tried to force things to happen. My heart was in the right place—I wanted to help others, to see lives transformed, to make a difference. But I was doing it in my strength. It doesn’t take long before the weight of it all catches up with you. I’ve felt drained, burned out, and confused, wondering why things weren’t working out the way I expected.

Maybe you’ve felt that way too. Maybe you’re in a season where you’ve been working hard, pushing forward, but you’re tired. It’s possible that you’ve been unknowingly running ahead of God. If you’re like me, you’ve had to learn the hard way that no matter how much we want to accomplish for God, it has to be done in His strength and in His time.

Psalm 20 reminds us of where our strength truly comes from. Verse 7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” In ancient times, chariots and horses represented power and security. Today, those chariots and horses could be our own abilities, resources, or strategies. But just like David recognized, none of those things will bring victory unless God is in it.

I’ve had to learn to stop trusting in my own “chariots and horses”—my own understanding, abilities, or plans—and start fully trusting in God. When I’ve tried to take control, it always led to burnout and confusion. But when I’ve surrendered to God’s timing and trusted in His power, I’ve seen breakthroughs, not just in my own life but in the lives of those I’ve been called to help.

Psalm 20:6 says, “Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to His anointed. He answers him from His heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of His right hand.” The victory isn’t something we create; it’s something God provides. Our responsibility is to trust, to wait, and to follow His lead. When we let Him lead, the pressure is off. We don’t have to make things happen; we just need to be obedient to His voice and trust in His power.

So, here’s my challenge for you today: if you’ve been striving and pushing in your own strength, stop. Take a step back and ask God if you’ve been running ahead of Him. Surrender those plans, those desires, back to Him. Trust in His timing and His power because when you do, He promises that your plans will succeed—not because of your effort, but because of His strength.

You don’t have to carry the weight alone. Whatever you’re facing—whether it’s in your career, family, or spiritual journey—God is fighting for you. Psalm 20 is a reminder that He gives victory to His anointed, and you can trust Him with your battles. Some may trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Today, walk in the confidence that comes from trusting in God’s strength. When we rely on Him, we will not burn out, we will not be overwhelmed, and our plans will succeed—not because of our might, but because of His grace and power.

Let’s stop striving and start trusting. Let’s walk in His peace today.