“Who is wise? Let them realize these things. Who is discerning? Let them understand. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.” Hosea 14,9 (NIV) |
After God has spoken, after the word of God has been released, after God has made a promise, it is often assumed that the fulfillment of that word will be immediate. Well, sometimes it is, sometimes it’s not.
Usually, the manifestation of physical healing, deliverance, salvation, protection, provision, etc. is prompt. Same as for prophetic words that specifically address the timing of fulfillment: God revealing that 'now' is the time.
On the other hand, when it comes to promises that concern our destiny, our assignment and purpose, their actual fulfillment may take time.
Often than not, our comprehension of God’s promise is usually lesser in magnitude and impact than it actually is. Which is why God has to stretch our thinking and our faith. One has to become. It requires change and transformation.
In fact, one of the things that can be frustrating to the believer is this period of preparation and becoming.
But it doesn’t have to be so!
After God has spoken, continue listening to Him. Because, that’s not the end of His revelation.
God has a plan of how things will unfold. Let not the revelation of God’s purpose for your life be the end of the story. It’s just the beginning.
“Make it happen”. You’ve probably heard this phrase. However, as children of God, we have to be VERY CAREFUL at this advice. Abraham is one example of someone who ‘made things happen’ but eventually it brought trouble. Sarah (called Sarai then) convinced Abraham (called Abram then) to have a child with her maid and yet God wanted Sarah to bear the child of promise (Genesis 16).
The warning here is on trying to fulfill God’s promise with our own human effort.
“For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.” Luke 7,33-35 (ESV) |
The wisdom of God is higher than the wisdom of men. The Scripture above shows us how people can have many things to ‘say’ but eventually the wisdom of God is proven right by the results or by the fruits it brings.
The blueprint of your life is in God’s hands. Seek to know the full counsel of God.
Trust that the Holy Spirit will lead you and order your steps. By His grace, He will cause you to do the right thing, to take the right action. To be in the right place at the right time.
It’s not on you to manifest what God has said. Your part is to follow His leading. What He says you need to do is what you should do.
David is one good example of someone who waited for God to keep His promise.
Although he was anointed king (1Samuel 16), David never imposed himself but rather served the one who was in the position of the king: Saul. He never sought to avenge himself when Saul persecuted him. On many occasions, David had the opportunity to kill Saul and thus have a way of becoming the king of Israel but he did not lay his hands on him. It was not God’s way.
“Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the Lord said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.’” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe. And he said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord.” So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.” (1 Samuel 24,4-7 NKJV)
King Saul later died, wounded in battle. And David was enthroned.
Child of God, let God fight for you. Because He will.
Let God vindicate you. Let Him exalt you. Let Him be the one to promote you.
May you never lose patience in the process. May God’s grace hold you, even in the most difficult places.
May you never forget that what He started, He will finish. In Jesus' name.
“But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2,8-11 (NIV) |
