God’s Delay is Not Necessarily Denial

It may seem as if the desire of your heart is never going to come to pass, but God’s delay is not necessarily denial. You asked for God’s will, you’ve turned into a prayer warrior, you’ve invested your last dollar into the plan, and you’re implementing all the latest success strategies. As soon as momentum builds, things slow back down to a turtle’s pace.

Oh yes! You’ve stepped your game up. You’ve taken some new classes, read several new books, and applied the unique skills and techniques—but still nothing!

Nothing seems to be turning around. Life feels as though it’s going up and down like a yo-yo, and the theme music is a calm, drawn-out symphony.

The song and dance are like dead silence, and it feels as though you are going nowhere fast.

Something and someone is moving forward, alright. It seems it’s just not you!

Now, your faith is wavering. Doubt and fear have crept in because you are not sure how long you can hold on. It’s understandable to begin wavering in your faith, especially when it seems like the vision won’t materialize. Year after year has gone by, and still, things just aren’t going as expected.

You sacrificed doing things you love to reap future rewards, and when you don’t see them happen, it’s heartbreaking.

To make matters worse, everyone around you is progressing, and getting ahead, it seems right? You’re even working harder and applying yourself more than them.

Soulful, this was the story of my life for nearly a decade, and I’m sure that you can relate to this in some capacity. Just know you are not alone. It can seem like you’re alone at times, being as though the people in your circle of influence aren’t in the same situation. So, they begin sounding like Job’s friends—trying to dissect what you did wrong to deserve the test you’re enduring.

I know, I know, I know…. I bet ya everybody has a big fat solution to get you out of this season. I’ve been there too!

Isaiah 48:17 NKJV says, Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go.

Per the scripture, it’s God that teaches and leads us. Therefore, He is the One that we must trust. Soulful, if you are following God, it doesn’t matter if things aren’t going the way you envisioned them. It doesn’t matter if goals aren’t lining up with your timeline. Therefore, you shouldn’t waver when time seems to be running out, in your opinion. It’s all a part of the process—the FAITH process—the TRANSFORMATION process—the REFINING process.

Check out this related post. It will help you understand delays a bit better.

https://backup2023.cure4thesoul.com/when-god-is-silent-do-not-give-up/

There may be a delay according to how you see it, but things are moving forward. The tides are turning in the spirit realm. The seeds of faith you’re sowing and have sown are not all for nothing. You must believe that! You’ll reap what you sow in some capacity, even if God changes your direction down the line.

Check out this related post:

Let’s break this down:

• You’re making forward progression by studying, sacrificing, dedicating yourself to your calling, and helping others along the way. Check!
• You’re praying more than you’ve ever prayed. You have learned to pray with thanksgiving, for God’s will, and the needs of others as opposed to praying only for self and your family. Check!
• You’re working diligently with all your heart, growing spiritually, getting closer to God, and adjusting your lifestyle to more of what pleases Him. Check!

If this is true, many great things are already happening for you. You just can’t see them on the surface. God’s delay does not necessarily mean denial. There are many reasons that God will slow our pace. When this happens, it does not always constitute that you are doing something wrong or headed down a slippery slope. If anything, this journey is showing you that you cannot do anything apart from God—nothing whatsoever.

Galatians 6:9 CSB says, Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.

You can’t give in to the delay just because you get tired. God is aware of every seed you sow and every move you make. He’s in control of your entire life. God always wants you to have plans and aspirations. He longs to give us the desires of our heart as well. Therefore, any delay He imposes is to bring greatness out of you for His glory. Everything and every season serve a purpose. When you’re in the position to receive His best, He will not hold back the floodgates.

Also, The Father is enjoying where the two of you are at this moment. You may not see it that way, but God sees that this is where He has your attention. During these seasons of silence and setbacks, God is performing some of His best work amid this delay. Dry seasons are also when you find out who you are and what you are made of because there is never a moment when your Heavenly Father is not concerned with you and your needs.

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Though you may only see the things you want, ahead of you—He sees your soul and the condition it is in now. The surgery that He’s carrying out in your heart may call for you to hold steady at this pace as He gouges some things out that don’t belong. You know those nasty things that may interfere with the dreams He desires to come to fruition in your life? If He does not get those strongholds rectified now, they will become more monstrous up ahead.

If the vision is God-breathed, it will come to pass! But, know that it may be different from how you perceived the initial vision, and it may not be where you believed it would take place.

When the moment comes for you to reap the harvest from the seeds you’ve been planting, you’ll rejoice in your understanding of the love and care God took to prepare you for the blessing. Admittedly, it will be too large for you to contain. So, don’t give up, shout halleluiah right where you are because the best is yet to come. Your delay is undoubtedly not a denial.

Soul Actions:

Use your time wisely. Stay faithful to God and build your foundation on the solid rock which is Jesus Christ.

Praise Him in advance and bless His name regardless of where you are right now. Show appreciation for the many things He has already done and the doors He’s already opened.

Do not stop believing due to what it looks like at this moment. Walk by faith not by feelings.

Stop comparing your situation with that of others. God is creative enough and has the capacity to write your story as an original and He’s powerful enough to turn your situation around in a matter of minutes.

Thank you for reading. If this devotional has been a blessing to you, please share it with two friends. Bless us with a comment describing how you will continue to move ahead in faith.