A data processing system for providing a distributed timer implements receiving a first timer message associated with a first computing device requesting creation of a first timer having a first duration and a first timer identifier; responsive to the first timer message creating a first timer, and inserting a first timer queue entry into a first timer queue associated with a first timer wait interval; receiving a plurality of second timer messages to reset the first timer; inserting a plurality of second timer queue entries into the first timer queue based on the plurality of second timer messages; and processing timer queue entries in the first timer queue responsive to the first timer wait interval having passed.