THE DELAY-Part Two

Delays. Everyone’s life gets, well...delayed with them! Sometimes in the midst of our deferral we feel like we’re the only one though. However Abraham was delayed in receiving his promise, Joseph was delayed so he could save a nation, Moses was delayed from delivering God’s people, Daniel’s answer was delayed, David’s reign was delayed, Jesus’ ministry release was delayed in the wilderness. Ummmm, I’d say we are in good company!  Well, last week we talked about the delays that we all experience and how we need to trust that Papa God has our ultimate good in mind-even when we can’t see it. We also learned that trusting God’s heart means that we can trust His plan for us...even during the detours of life. So today let’s look at just a couple blessings that we can experience RIGHT NOW if we find ourselves in the midst of a delay.

1. Delays make you stop forging ahead. We see this as negative but think about it for a moment; when you are at a railroad crossing and the bar comes down with its flashing lights...aren’t you glad the bar delayed you from crossing the tracks at the same time as the multi-ton train? In Numbers 22:22-33 we read about how the prophet Balaam’s life was saved by way of a donkey’s delay! Postponements while not convenient are sometimes vitally important and who is to say that the l-o-n-g d-r-a-w-n out delay that you are wrestling with right now isn’t one of these critical deferrals?

2. Delays give you time to consider your options. Sometimes we have our spiritual blinders on as we run down the paths that we’ve selected-come what may. We are so busy trying to control our corner of the universe that we miss better options that are waiting for us-if we’d just take the time to look. But like the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland...we rush ahead singing “I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date.  No time to say "Hello, Goodbye".  I'm late, I'm late, I'm late!” And although delays have a tendency to stop that outward running, we must also allow our Father to use these deferrals to calm our inner rushing as well. If not, we may miss those better choices because we’ll be too busy declaring to God “You’re late, You’re late for my very important date! No time to say ‘Hello, Goodbye; You’re late, You’re late You’re late!” Thankfully though, delays quiet the voices that accompany the rush of life, so we can carve out the time to seek His face and listen for His eternal perspective-so we can select His very best options! This enables us to glean the unique and treasured nuggets found in delay.

 3. Delays should make you turn to the Keeper of Time. This is true because they remind us that we are not in control of our universe>>>He is! Not only does God declare in Isaiah 55:9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”, His plans are so much better than ours too! And if you are in need of further proof, consider I Corinthians 2:9 which offers this amazing promise “...No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.” Close your eyes with me and meditate on that for just a minute or two. Just close your eyes and let your heart move from every long-held dream, from every aching desire and then let Papa whisper that His plan far outweighs, completely out glistens, entirely out sparkles even our wildest imaginations! What we can desire for ourselves or for those we love, pales in comparison to the passion of His heart and the workings of His hand!

What we “lose” by delays are more than offset by the unique blessings that they can position us for. So the next time a delay seems perpetual, let’s remind ourselves, that trusting God means trusting that His timing is exactly what we need to position ourselves for the rich rewards of being right where His perfect love determines is best, even if it comes “out of season”.  

Isaiah 64:4 declares; “Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Oh the riches of a trusting heart who embrace this promise without restriction...for He who hath promised is faithful beyond our imagination and is oh so worthy of trust with every delay that He sends! So we can accept to our deepest levels, without reservation that with Papa; the best is always yet to be; so that we may we from the depths of our hearts proclaim; I will “wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” because “...the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. (Psalm 27:14, Psalm 33:11)

Papa, I choose to trust you in seasons of delay. In those moments help me to stop forging ahead without regard, remind me to use the delay to seek Your better options and strengthen me to turn more fully to You; the Keeper of Time itself...help me to rest in confidence that Your perfect plan for my life includes perfect timing as well. Thank you Papa for never leaving me to wait alone; I believeand am thankful that You are with me for this ENTIRE life’s journey. In Jesus Name, Amen.