Delayed but Not Denied

Psalm 13:1 KJV

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

When you are waiting for God to answer your prayers, turn around your situation, and come through with a blessing, it can feel like you are waiting for what seems like a lifetime. Wondering, “did he get the message?” “Should I pray on it again?” “It’s probably not gonna happen.” “Maybe I just have to figure it out on my own.” However, it is rare that we consider that just because things are delayed does not mean they are denied.

Psalm 13:1 KJV

How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

It can feel like God may have forgotten you when trouble arises and you must endure for days, weeks, months or even years in an unfortunate circumstance. And it can feel as if God has turned his back on you. Which can lead to troubling thoughts and emotions.

Psalm 13:2 KJV

How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall mine enemy be exalted over me?

We all reach a point where after an extended period of time waiting and praying, we begin to self afflict ourselves through the counsels of our own heart and mind. Which only exasperates the negative feelings we have. Leading to daily sorrow in your heart; or simply put… depression.

Psalm 74:9 KJV

We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long.

To make matters worse, we may not see ANY sign of significant change around the corner. And we have no one we can go to, to say, “surely this will only be for another week.” No one can confidently say how long you may be in a particular seasonal affliction. Or how long you have to wait for a blessing. Which leads to only more uncertainty.

Psalm 74:10 KJV

O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?

Then you can begin to feel embarrassed. As you openly claim to be a child of The Most High God, to serve the living God, yet you are not taken care of; you still lack. And those you believe to be forsaken of God or moving ungodly have what they need while you don’t. Some may even begin to mock you and make fun of you about it. “Thought you served the real God.” “Where your God at now.” “You just gotta help yourself.” “Told you, you was just doing the most, God don’t need all that.” “Look at me, I’m doing just fine.”

Psalm 94:1-4 KJVS

O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. [2] Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. [3] LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? [4] How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?

Now you looking for The Most High to show himself to be God. You looking for him to show up and show out in your life. So he can silence all the naysayers and doubters.

Habakkuk 1:2 KJVS

O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

And it can get frustrating because even in your sorrow, all the tears and frustration. It still seems as if God has not given you that which you seek. Therefore, it appears to be as if your prayers are going unanswered.

Revelation 6:9-11 KJVS

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: [10] And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? [11] And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

But we must turn to the scriptures and learn how our Power operates. You have our righteous forefathers and foremothers asking God how long do we have to wait? It feels like an eternity for you to answer our prayers and judge our enemies. But he did not forget. He has a plan. It just has to play out and come to fulfillment. We just have to trust the process.

Matthew 17:17 KJV

Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.

We can’t allow our troubles and thoughts to cause us to fall off the deep end and become faithless.

Matthew 6:30 KJV

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

You know God provides and blesses the whole earth. He causes the rain and sun to shine to grow the grass of the fields and yet those things are set to be destroyed with fervent heat in the not too distant future. But you are meant to be blessed eternally, so how much more will God clothe, provide for, and bless you? You just can’t allow the adversary to come into your mind and spirit and cause you to doubt what God has in store for you.

Matthew 8:26 KJV

And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.

Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear is the opposite of faith. If fear is not checked it will overcome your mind and senses and cause you to move adversely. Because fear brings doubt. And God is a power that thrives on faith. Many things Christ told the people but when it came down to healing and miracles, what was his favorite line? “Your faith has made you whole.” Not your doubt, not your fear. You must have faith, you must believe and trust that God will come through.

James 1:3 KJV

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

These tribulations and set backs are to try and prove your faith. You learn to become more patient. You learn to understand that I don’t know when, I don’t know how, but I know God will come through in due season.

Romans 5:3-4 KJVS

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; [4] And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

These setbacks and delays should not discourage us but encourage us. As our faith should increase with every new experience to give us more hope. If God came through that other time before this and made it happen, and he came through the time before that and made things happen, why would he not come through now? So he brought you all this way just to watch you fall now? Really? That was the same mindset our people had in Egypt. God did all these miracles just to bring you into the wilderness to kill you, or watch you die. Come on now.

Hebrews 10:35-36 KJVS

Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. [36] For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.

Don’t allow doubt to penetrate your mind and hijack and rewire your brain. That now you have lost confidence in God. Because that is what doubt and fear will do. Now you don’t think God can do it. You don’t think God is coming through, now you think you have to figure it out all on your own. But no, you need to be more patient, more trusting, more faithful. Continue to make sure your walk is solid. Remove sin far from you. Make sure you are on the path and stay the course.

Matthew 6:31-32 KJVS

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? [32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Don’t allow your mind to focus on how are you going to figure it out. It’s not your problem to figure out, God already has the answer and solution. If he doesn’t open that door in your life, move on to the next one! Don’t try to kick it down, don’t try to knock harder, don’t sit in front of it and cry because you really wanted this one to open. Just keep swimming! Just keep going. That one wasn’t for you. God already knew how it would end up. Or he has something better for you, that’s not good enough. Yeah, it may seem good but God has something great!

Matthew 6:33 KJVS

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Ensure first you are on the right path. Watch your step. And stay moving. It will come, but sometimes you can’t speed it up or slow it down because it is set for its appointed time. Just make sure you use God and his word as a filter for everything you encounter to ensure your optimal success.

Sirach 2:10 KJVA

Look at the generations of old, and see; did ever any trust in the Lord, and was confounded? or did any abide in his fear, and was forsaken? or whom did he ever despise, that called upon him?

Really analyze and meditate on our forefathers and foremothers that relied on The Most High God. God never failed them. He never abandoned them. You may get down to your last not knowing how you will make it through the week or month but God will come through in the last minute to save you.

Sirach 11:21 KJVA

Marvel not at the works of sinners; but trust in the Lord, and abide in thy labour: for it is an easy thing in the sight of the Lord on the sudden to make a poor man rich.

Don’t allow the prosperity of the wicked to overcome your mind and spirit and captivate your attention. Just keep moving in righteousness. Doing the work of The Most High God. If it’s nothing for him to make a poor man rich, how much effort do you think it really takes for him to make you a little less poor? I mean think about it? Really, you don’t think God will come through and give you a job that pays a little $2 or $3 more an hour?

You have to understand that when things aren’t coming through you’re not seeing what is happening in the background. God is often times already setting the table for what he plans and needs to do in your life. God knows if he gave you what you asked for at that time and what you THOUGHT was good for you and what you really wanted, you would have stopped looking. No need, because you THINK you got what you were looking for. But he needs you to keep looking so you find what he really has in store for you. That when you receive it, you will be filled with joy and appreciation that you waited for him and that the other things didn’t come through. Need it be car, house, job, or spouse, he needs to close doors in your life to keep you safe, protect you from the dangers he sees on the other side or down the line. And to cause you to keep looking and keep knocking until you get to the one that was meant for you. Just let him pave the way for you to follow.

Matthew 6:34 KJVS

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.