THE BLESSING OF DELAY

Somebody said, “God’s delay is not God’s denial.” We are a generation that has everything around us all in the fast mode. Most of us do not want to be delayed in any way shape or form. As a matter of fact, we are always in a hurry.

Looking at some bible illustrations, we will notice that all of them took time before they were fulfilled. Although God told Noah that there will be a flood yet he gave 120 years before it happened; Moses took on the role of being Israel’s deliverer only after 80 years; Caleb, one of the member of the 12 spies sent out to Canaan achieved his share of the land only after 45 years; Joseph was given a dream when he was young that he will be somebody and became the Prime Minister of Egypt after 17 years. I could go on and on and there is one common aspect from these examples – time factor. Most importantly, the coming of Jesus was also dependent upon this very important factor of time as recorded in Galatians 4:4, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son…” (NIV)

You might say would that apply today? Yes! You see God is in the habit of making sure that His plan will be fulfilled according to His timetable not ours. One of these examples is found in Exodus 13:17-18, “When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them on the road through the Philistine country, though that was shorter. For God said, "If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt." So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea. The Israelites went up out of Egypt armed for battle.” (NIV)

Actually, there were two ways from Egypt to Canaan. One was a short cut from the north of Egypt to the south of Canaan, perhaps about four or five days' journey; the other was much further about, through the wilderness, and that was the way in which God chose to lead his people Israel. Why did God choose the longer route instead of the shorter one? He has His reasons and let me give you some of them,(1) The Israelites were to be humbled and proved in the wilderness; (2) Because they were not as yet fit for war. Remember their spirits were broken with slavery; it was not easy for them to turn their hands of a sudden from the trowel to the sword after 430 years.

What could we learn from this scenario more than 4,000 years ago? First, God's way is always the right way, though it seems not evident at the moment. Secondly, God proportions his people's trials to their strength (1 Corinthians 10:13). Lastly, judge nothing before the time. Habakkuk 2:3 declares, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Delay is never part of God’s vocabulary but man’s alone; God does not delay anything that pertains to His plan and purposes for humanity but prepares what He will provide in the most excellent way. He will package it not just for attractiveness sake but will make sure it is complete and He will make sure that when you receive it, you will be amazed because it will be more than you expected. It is exactly what the Scriptures declare that “No eye has seen no ear has heard what God has prepared for those who love Him.”

When you are going a lengthy road in life, remember that the Lord leads us to receive the best not the least. Just walk with him and he will see you through. Keep your focus on what is ahead not what you see along the way. Never allow anything or anyone to distract you from receiving God’s best or you will miss it. Many did but you must not. Therefore, keep your cool at all times.

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Under Fire

Watching any war movie, one will not miss hearing the soldiers of being “under enemy fire.” During this time, they kept their heads down as bullets pass by. Imagine being hit by a flying bullet meant death. What a nerve-wracking moment to be in! But how does it compare to everyday life being “under fire” by constant barrage of concerns, worries, fears and all other related things? Does keeping your head down at all times the only means possible? Or giving up is also an option? No matter what kinds of circumstances surrounding you today, the only option is to know that in spite of all these things, you must be at perfect peace in God even “under fire.”

The pages of the Bible are filled with real stories of men and women who went through the fiery storms of life and became overcomers through their faith in God. Although there are those who gave up their life in the end but they remained faithful and steadfast up to their last breath. Therefore, never think that you are alone in your struggles in life. Each and every day, people go through situations that show what they are made of. The reaction not the action makes a huge distinction. Our reaction to the present situation will always determine our character in the process. Remember that God will never allow anything to happen to us without His permission especially to those whose life is in His hands.

Look at it this way, when you say that your life is in His hands, it is clearly understood that He has all the right to do anything that pleases Him for you to become a better person. However, if you say, He is not in control of your life, then who is? Who’s protecting you during your seasons of being “under fire?”

Malachi 3:3 says: "He (God) will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. ‘One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study. That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy -- when I see my image in it”’

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you. This very moment, you need to know that God is watching over you. And, whatever you’re going through, you'll be a better person in the end. As long as God is with you, “under fire” will be the best place you will ever be. Wherever God brings you, just have faith that He will never leave you nor forsake and it is a solemn promise that He intends to keep.

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