When You Feel Behind in Life - Your Nightly Prayer - October 11th
When You Feel Behind in Life
Your Nightly Prayer
By Tracie Miles
TODAY'S SCRIPTURE
“The last will be first, and the first will be last.” - Matthew 20:16
SOMETHING TO PONDER
One of the greatest frustrations for Christians can be waiting on God to move and to answer prayers we’ve been praying for weeks, months, or even years. In today’s culture, we are accustomed to instant gratification. We want things to happen to our satisfaction and in our desired timing.
We want fast food, fast service, fast internet speed, and quick email response times. We engage in texting, direct messaging, and social media so we can enjoy instant communication and feedback. We want things our way, and we want them now. We like things quick, easy, and convenient, and because we live in this era of urgency, sometimes waiting on God is harder than ever before.
A few years ago, as I sat in my doctor’s waiting room, watching the clock tick away seconds on the wall, having read every outdated magazine, and getting frustrated that it was long past my scheduled appointment time, I became anxious. As my impatience grew, my mind eventually began to wander to self-focused thoughts:
“I wonder if the doctor is too busy to be considerate of my time.”
“I wonder why other patients, who came in after me, are being seen before me.”
“I wonder if anyone even cares that I am still waiting to be seen?”
I was tired of waiting…but as I sat there feeling vulnerable in that thin blue gown, my mind began to wander to more important things … like other things I was tired of waiting on … like God.
“…is God just too busy to notice me?”
“…does He care about other people more than me, and that’s why their prayers are answered?”
“…should I just try to solve my own problems or make things happen?”
“…is God even listening to me?”
“... can I really do new things at this stage in my life?”
“... is it too late for me to pursue the God-given dreams in my heart?”
I am not a good “waiter” at all, whether in the doctor’s waiting room or God’s waiting room. Unfortunately, sometimes waiting can cause wondering, and that wondering can cause our minds to question God’s timing, our faith, and our callings. We begin to obsess over our needs and desires—and feel as if everyone is moving forward while we stay stuck—instead of trusting in His sovereignty and perfect timing.
We question His love and grace because it feels like He’s not opening doors for us, and this fragile emotion is addressed in Matthew 20:16: “The last will be first, and the first will be last.”
This verse is Jesus’ way of teaching that in God’s Kingdom, grace and blessing are not earned or measured by human effort, timing, or status. It turns our ideas of fairness and hierarchy upside down. “The first will be last” challenges those who assume early or outward success, or just answered prayers when ours are going unanswered, earns them a higher place in God's eyes. “The last will be first” encourages those who feel overlooked, delayed, or late to the table — reminding them that God sees them, values them, and offers the same full portion of grace and purpose.
When you feel like everyone else is moving ahead — getting married, having babies, starting ministries, publishing books, achieving success, hitting milestones — and you’re stuck or starting late, this verse is a balm for the soul and reminds us of several important truths:
God’s timeline is not the world’s timeline.
What looks like being “behind” by human standards is actually right on schedule in the Kingdom.
God’s rewards are based on grace, not hustle.
You don’t need to have started early, had the biggest platform, the most success, or achieved the most to receive His favor and calling.
God redeems “late bloomers.”
He often uses people in their later seasons — or those society has overlooked — for great Kingdom impact.
You are not forgotten or left out.
He sees you waiting and still calls you to His work — and His joy.
If you feel left behind in life, Matthew 20:16 is Jesus' gentle reminder that God's grace finds you, fills you, and uses you — no matter when you show up. In His Kingdom, you’re not behind. You’re being prepared for something that’s right on time.
Since that day at the doctor, I’ve witnessed God’s impeccable timing orchestrated in countless situations. So many that it brings tears to my eyes, not only because He answered prayers, but because I doubted if He would. I’ve learned not to worry about being first or being last, because God always has a plan.
Maybe you are in God’s waiting room today. Maybe this waiting room is a new place for you or one in which you have spent a lot of time—waiting for a sick family member to be healed; waiting for a child, a spouse, or a new job opportunity; waiting for your teen to turn back to God, your marriage to improve, financial security to be established, an addiction overcome, a clean bill of health to be obtained, doors of opportunity to open, or witness a dream coming true.
Maybe you are desperately waiting to see the One who has the power and authority to fix the problem and answer your prayers as only He can. Maybe you are waiting for a miracle.
Waiting is hard, whether we are waiting for something, feeling behind, or being overlooked. Yet during the wait, we can either wonder about God’s timing or trust that His timing is perfect. We can either wonder about His activity or believe He is always at work. We can either wonder if God is going to act or choose to anticipate when and how He will act. We can wonder if He really cares.
Waiting requires taking the focus off ourselves and our timelines, and putting our wholehearted trust and hope in the Lord. God’s pace is unhurried, let ours be as well.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Dear Lord,
As I lie down tonight, I bring You the weight of my comparisons and the fear of being left behind. I confess that I’ve measured my worth against timelines that were never meant to define me. Help me release the belief that I’m “too late” or “not enough,” and instead rest in the truth that Your timing is always perfect. Thank You for reminding me that in Your Kingdom, the first and the last all stand equal in grace. Teach me to trust Your unhurried pace and to find joy in the story You’re writing for my life, even when I can’t yet see the ending.
Tonight, I choose to surrender my striving, my envy, and my anxiety. Fill my heart with peace and contentment, knowing that I am exactly where You want me to be — and that nothing You have planned for me will pass me by.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Remember, God’s timing is perfect — not pressured. If you are in God’s waiting room today, spend some time thinking about what it is you need to begin trusting Him to do in His timing. Ask yourself, “Have I surrendered my definition of success to God’s timeline, or am I still clinging to the world’s clock?”
2. Let this be a moment to reflect on whether you're measuring progress by comparison or by trust. Ask the Lord to align your heart with His pace, not your expectations.
3. Believe you haven’t missed what was meant for you. Truly believe that God hasn’t overlooked you — and that your ‘late start’ might be a perfectly-timed beginning. Let this truth sink in: Nothing God has ordained for your life will be delayed or denied by someone else’s early success.
Tracie Miles is a popular Author Coach for aspiring writers, a Christian literary agent at Tracie Miles Literary, and the author of 8 best-selling books. She lives in Charlotte, NC, near her three grown children and two baby granddaughters. For more encouragement on trusting in God’s timing or tackling new things, check out her newest book, God’s Got You: Embracing New Beginnings with Courage and Confidence. You can also connect with Tracie on Instagram and Facebook.
Are you an aspiring writer longing to pursue publishing? This is the perfect time to enroll in Tracie’s 8-week group coaching program for writers, The Writer’s Blueprint, which begins August 18th! CLICK HERE for more information and to sign up today!
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Cecilie_Arcurs
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