Who’s timetable is it?

But as for me, my prayer is to Thee, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Thy lovingkindness, answer me with Thy saving truth.
Psalm 69:13

It is funny that we usually try to force the hand of God to fit into our timetable. We call our perceived time of need the acceptable time. When I am hurting, I call it the “acceptable time.” Pain is no fun, yet I am convinced that pain forces us to focus on that which is most important to our lives. If “I” is most important, then pain becomes the catalyst that starts the process of self-pity and woe-is-me-ism. If earthly objects are the most important, such as material things or even people, then we cling to them to ease the pain and if they are people, the potential is there to suffocate them in relation to our perceived need for them. If God is most important, then we run to Him who is able in His lovingkindness to answer our pain with His “saving truth.”