The Test of Delayed Promise

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pinky promiseWe first looked at the first test the Lord uses to develop and mature us, it is the test of MAJOR CHANGE.  I don’t want to give the impression these tests are easy, in fact each one is very hard.

The second test can be the test of a DELAYED PROMISE. (Or what I would like to call the, “when Lord” ).

Last time we looked at Abram and how he moved when God said move, but why did he move? What was the benefit? Abram moved because the Lord said

    “..I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Gen 12:2, ESV)

Abram moved because God promised him he would become a great nation. This is all good and Abram obeyed God, but there was one problem. Abram’s wife Sarai was unable to have children.

How do you become a Father of a great nation with no children of your own?

Many times in our own life we know there is a promise God has laid out for us, but we don’t know the WHEN.

We sometimes lose faith and allow Satan an opening to encourage us to question everything we have believed.

Sometimes God places us in waiting rooms. It can be a physical waiting room, like a hospital (when will my child get better? When will the new kidney arrive?); sometimes it is a spiritual waiting room (when will you answer my prayers, Lord?). You know God has plans for you, but you feel like you have waited so long you want to know how much longer.  Sometimes God answers us, but not in the way we expected.  So we wait with an open heart and trust in God’s timing.

To pass this trial a Christian believer waits for God’s timing.

I learned this first hand in waiting for a new house, we (like the rest of the US) had our house up for sale.  I still believe God is going to bless us with a new house, but last year was filled with my impatience and crying of WHEN.  I have come to learn (though many, many, many tears and talks with the Lord) that I need to just trust his timing.

Do you have a delayed promise?  Don’t lose heart, don’t question, your beliefs, stand strong!!! Wait for God’s timing, he has not failed you, and his ways are always right on time.  Like I mentioned before, these tests are HARD, but sometimes know how to walk through them can help when we are in the midst of a trial.  Too bad only hindsight is 20/20…

Check back next Monday for the third test God can give us to equip and develop us.

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4 thoughts on “The Test of Delayed Promise”

  2. Great post, Laurel. Waiting on God is hard sometimes, but if we spend that time reading His Word and remaining faithful in prayer, it passes by easier than we expect.

    Laurie Anns last blog post..

  3. I know that I often grow impatient because I want God to answer my prayers now. But I often learn much in the waiting process. As I look back over the years and remember some of the prayers I prayed, I’m glad that He didn’t give me what I thought I needed or wanted …because He had something better in mind.

    I also find that when I become impatient and begin to take control in my own hands, I mess things up more. Painful lessons that I need to remember.

    Debbies last blog post..Give Quick Feedback

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