Seasons of Delay

God develops our trust in Him during seasons of delay, when answers don’t come like we think they should.  This time can be challenging and confusing. During these seasons people can lose heart.  Remember, these seasons don’t last forever! In Luke 11 Jesus tells a parable that introduces divine delays in our journey and how to respond.  The man in the parable is moved to action because his friend is persistent and would not give up. Jesus calls the man’s persistence, “Shameless Audacity” (verse 8).

The way we respond when the door seems to be locked determines whether or not we will grow into maturity.  Jesus encouraged the idea of the law of perseverance. Don’t give up!  The asking, seeking & knocking help us to clarify what we want and what we are believing God to do.   Don’t stop.  Keep hope alive in your heart while you wait in this season. Maturing happens when you don’t give up!

There are three reasons why people stop and give up. The first is discouragement, which is usually based around a lie someone is believing.  God doesn’t really love me. God can’t really provide for me. Does God even care about this situation/relationship/etc? Why isn’t this urgent to you God? Is God really good?  If He is good, would He really put me in this spot?  All these statements or questions are doubting God’s love and intention for you.  Remember God sees the bigger picture and He is always working for your good.  If there is an area of your life where you feel discouraged, ask God to reveal any lie you have been believing in that area. 

The second reason people give up is confusion. As people look for answers, they come to the wrong conclusions. In this state, they are vulnerable to lies. In seasons of delay, the values we believe get challenged and tested. We will either get strengthened, like Abraham or what we have believed will get torn down.  Romans 4:20-21 speaks of Abraham in his season of delay, while he waited for a son. “Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised.” 

Thirdly, they get distracted. We cannot allow our lives to get distracted. Keep focused. Keep asking, seeking and knocking. In Luke 11:9-10 Jesus assures us, “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”  Be confident as you come to the Father because He loves you! 
If you are in a season of delay, here are a few practicals:

1. Don’t get isolated. Stay connected to people who will stand with you in the waiting.  
2. Guard your heart and mind from wrong thinking. Trust that God is working behind the scenes to get things into place for the manifestation of what you are praying.  Perseverance is a great quality!  Shameless audacity opens the doors of breakthrough. Don’t give up too soon. What if Joshua and the Israelites only marched around Jericho five times instead of seven?  Would the walls have fallen down? 
3. Continue to pray and worship.  During seasons of delay, prayer and worship are a gift we give to God because it is such a sacrifice.  Continue to declare His goodness.  The Romans 4 passage above tells us that Abraham “gave glory to God”... He continued to worship God in the waiting.  We are filling up the golden bowls of incense, contributing to the next season before it arrives!  Keep filling until the bowls tip. 

What comes from the seasons of delay when we persevere and do not give up?  Authority comes because we have been tested and have overcome.  Confidence comes because as our core value were tested, our identity is secure. We know it isn’t just lip service.  Peace comes as our world was shaken, we stayed close to God and receive a quiet confidence in God no matter what is going on around us.