“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. For, ‘In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay.’” (Hebrews 10:36-37, NIV)
If you’re discouraged because of God’s delay in answering your prayers, understand the delay is not a denial. Just because the answer or the miracle hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean God isn’t going to answer — or that He’s forgotten you or doesn’t care about you. It simply means “not yet”!
Part of becoming spiritually mature is learning the difference between “no” and “not yet,” between a denial and a delay. The Bible tells us, “He who is coming will come and will not delay” (Hebrews 10:37, NIV).
God’s delay may be a test of your patience. Anybody can be patient once. And most people can be patient twice — or even three times. God tests your patience over and over.
Does He do this to see how patient you are? No, He does it so YOU can see how patient you are. His testing helps you see God’s power at work in you and examine your level of commitment to Him.
God tests you also so that you can know He is faithful, even if the answers you seek are delayed.
You may be going through difficult times right now. You may be discouraged because the situation you face seems unmanageable, unreasonable, or unfair.
It may seem unbearable, and inside you’re basically saying, “God, I can’t take it anymore. I just can’t take it anymore!”
But you can.
You can stay with it longer because God is with you. He’ll equip you to press on.
Remember, you are never a failure until you quit. Even then, He won’t give up on you! Resist Satan infused discouragement and finish the race God has set before you. God loves you just as you are, not as you should be, because none of us are as we should be. But He loves you enough not to leave you there.
Prayer
Lord, my faith and patience are challenged each and every day, and I look to You for my strength. Strengthen my faith and give me the patience to wait for Your guidance to finish the race You have before me.
Stay encouraged!
Pastor Mike
