“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”— Isaiah 40:31
The saying “Delay is not denial” is familiar to most of us. Few people enjoy delay—especially when they are on an important journey and need to arrive on time. It can be deeply frustrating when you set out full of hope, only to find yourself held back by unanticipated obstacles. Those who lack patience often give up quickly, sometimes even cursing what they see as a wild goose chase.
When the Israelites left Egypt, they were full of anticipation, expecting to reach the land of milk and honey in no time. It did not work out that way. Along the journey they encountered serious setbacks, and what they thought would be a walkover ultimately took forty years to reach the Promised Land. While this may at first seem harsh, reflection shows that the long walk through the desert served an important purpose: to prune out impatient and unfaithful elements.
Once, “when the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, ‘Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him’” (Exodus 32:1).
In the end, it was the faithful who survived.
Just as they were about to enter the land they had longed for, Moses reminded them: “I have led you forty years in the desert. Your clothes did not wear out, and your shoes did not wear out on your feet. You did not eat bread or drink wine or strong drink, so that you might know that I am the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 29:5-6). All that delay had a purpose—to draw those who loved God closer to Him.
You too may have set out on a journey with a clear timeline in mind. Things have not gone according to plan. There has been a detour down a winding path, and you may feel as though you have lost it all. The truth is that God never left you. Has it occurred to you that He has been working something good in your life through it all? Sometimes that is simply the case—persevere until God finishes His work.
Reflection: Am I on a journey where I have been frustrated because things have not wooked to plan, and am losing patience with God!
Prayer for today: Lord Almoghty Father God of Abraham, Maker of heaven and earth, through the apparent delays of life I choose to wait on You. For Yoy never fail, and You always have a beautiful purpose for me. This I pray in Jesus’ name!
