“Timing is everything.”
In its simplest form, this describes the right action aligning with the right moment. The right action, when taken too soon or too late, can fall flat. But when the right action meets the right timing – that is when things come together in extraordinary ways.
Few stories illustrate this better than that of Harland Sanders, better known as Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Colonel Sanders’ story is one worth revisiting whenever doubt starts whispering that it’s “too late.” One of the most inspiring parts of his journey is that he did not find success until his mid-60s. That detail resonated deeply with me while I was writing my first book, Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. I remember reminding God that I was already 50 years old and wishing He had called me sooner.
That is when I learned Colonel Sanders was over a decade older than me when his breakthrough came in the form of a franchise in Salt Lake City, Utah. His story also taught me that success does not discriminate based on age. Instead, it welcomes anyone willing to take the first step.
Colonel Sanders endured hundreds of rejections before finally finding someone willing to franchise his recipe. He was indeed persistent, but this post is not about hard work, grit, or perseverance, although those certainly matter. Rather, this post is about something even more critical: God’s timing.
In last week’s blog post, Excellence Takes Time, I wrote about how anything meant to have a lasting impact often requires incubation. Whether a dream, a book, a calling, or even a bucket of fried chicken, we, and our dreams, need to marinate in the presence of the Lord. This waiting period, while often frustrating, is never wasted when we allow it to refine what God is preparing.
Scripture reminds us in 2 Peter 3:8–9:
“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 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.”
God has already marked the exact day, hour, and moment for our dreams to come to fruition.
My dream of writing and publishing Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women and A Better Way! The Break Down Better Guided Journal took seven years. I thought I was getting too old to see it through. But age was never in the equation. It was about the heart. My heart and those who will open these books and read the words contained therein. We needed to be ready to recieve, and that often takes time.
In the posts leading up to this one, I shared that God asked me to imagine what it would be like to publish a “super letter” one day. I chose to dream with Him, and though I didn’t know when, I knew these books would enter the world one day.
That day is now.
If God has planted a dream or vision in your heart that has yet to come to fruition, be encouraged that your one day is coming. And when it does, it won’t be too soon or too late. The timing will be perfect.
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This post concludes the story behind Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. It’s the fourth in a short series tracing my journey from dream to publication. If you would like to start at the beginning, you can read the prior three posts by clicking below.
If I Only Imagine – Discover how God used a simple child’s note to reignite a dream and inspire the writing of Break Down Better: 52 Restoring Devotionals for Burned-Out Women. Learn to imagine boldly with God and trust His promises.
Make it Public – Learn why it’s essential to write down God-given dreams. Learn how recording your vision brings clarity, preserves God’s message, and prepares it to bless others.
Excellence Takes Time – A dream or calling must incubate in the presence of God. He cares more about excellence than speed.