The gift of God’s timing

Mike Langlois is the Grand Knight of St. Augustine Knights of Columbus Council 7273 in Peru, N.Y. He is also the Upstate Conference Coordinator for Evangelization and Faith Formation for the New York State Knights of Columbus. (Courtesy photo of JASON WYSONG)

While imprisoned during World War II, Dietrich Bonhoeffer — a German pastor and theologian executed for his part in the German resistance —  wrote, “God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfill His promises, leading us along the best and straightest paths.” These words are a reminder to be patient and trust in God’s timing for our lives.

For years, I chased security in money, status and my own timing, only to realize I was trying to fill an emptiness that only God’s timing can truly satisfy. Reflecting on the past, I feel sadness — not regret — that God acted for me, though I missed the opportunity to trust Him sooner. These days, I do not ask Him for things that are rushed or trivial. I pray for my family’s health, that more people hear the Good News, and for strength and wisdom to follow His will. In seeking that peace, I have recognized that my personal struggle with restlessness reflects a broader American character noted for centuries.

Americans, whether we like it or not, are often seen as obsessed with wealth and status, though this drive may be framed as a quest for basic financial security. The reputation likely stems from the nation’s early days, when survival in a challenging environment demanded extreme self-reliance. In his 1835 work, “Democracy in America,” Alexis de Tocqueville observed that the American “taste for physical gratification” led to a “mad impatience” for material success. He noted that since Americans believed they could change their social status through effort, they became perpetually hurried to secure wealth. Today, that “American Dream” has shifted. Whether the obstacle is systemic inequality or personal ambition, the result is a soul-deep anxiety. The “American Dream” is now an endless cycle where financial stress and modern pressures take precedence over peace of mind.

The World Happiness Report, which is published each year by Oxford, Gallup, and the UN, shows only 59.2 percent of U.S. adults feel hopeful about their future — the lowest in almost 20 years. The U.S. ranked 24th in happiness in 2025 and 23rd in 2026, its lowest positions ever. Older Americans (over 60) rank 10th in happiness worldwide, while younger Americans (under 30) rank 62nd. The statistics suggest that our current cultural approach doesn’t work and opens the possibility of a spiritual path offering greater fulfillment. Is it unreasonable to consider trusting in God’s timing — a fundamental aspect of Christian faith — which can serve as a remedy for our collective modern “mad impatience?” God’s timing is a divine mystery beyond our mortal understanding, but we can ponder the question to our hearts’ content. Perhaps the question should be, “What truly anchors our lives?” Often, we mistake the pursuit of wealth for fulfillment, or the desire for status for a sense of security. When we lose our purpose, we tend to fill the void with habits that drain the very energy we need to build a life worth living. For a Christian, trusting in God’s timing enriches life by replacing the exhausting burden of control with a profound, supernatural peace. By acknowledging God’s sovereignty, believers can transform their daily experience from anxious living into purposeful rest. 

The Bible contains many examples of individuals who struggled to trust in God’s divine timing — such as Peter, the “rock” of the church. Peter frequently faltered due to his impatience and desire for immediate results, attempting to push his own agenda ahead of God’s plan. When Jesus revealed that He must suffer and die, Peter exclaimed, “God forbid, Lord! This shall never happen to You.” Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Get behind me, Satan,” in an effort to redirect Peter’s focus to the fact that God’s timing should take precedence over human desires (Matthew 16:22-24). In the Garden of Gethsemane, Peter again tried to take control by cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant, Malchus. Jesus corrected him, asking, “Shall I not drink the cup my Father has given me?” (John 18:10-12). At the end of his life, according to the Acts of Peter, an ancient text written in the late 2nd century, Peter was fleeing Rome when he encountered Jesus. Peter asked, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” At that moment, Peter realized that it was God’s timing for his own sacrifice.

Bonhoeffer, who was confronting the reality of death, was expressing his shift from hoping for earthly rescue to accepting God’s spiritual purpose for him. While most of us will never face a prison cell or martyrdom, we must challenge the modern impulse to control our own timelines and outcomes. By trusting in divine timing, we can move away from anxiety and move toward a quiet strength to fulfill God’s will for us.

Mike Langlois is the Grand Knight of St. Augustine Knights of Columbus Council 7273 in Peru, N.Y. Local Knights of Columbus councils interested in fortifying the faith of their memberships, or offering column topic ideas, can contact him at [email protected].