Delay or Denial: From Promise to Fulfillment

The Bible says, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). This statement reassures us that though resistance and challenges may arise, they do not negate the promise of victory. Let's take a deeper look into this through the story of Sarah and Abraham.

God approaches Sarah when she is 60 years old and promises that she will become the mother of nations. However, it takes over 20 years for this promise to come to pass. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.” (Genesis 18:14). One might wonder, wouldn't it have been easier if God had waited until the 20th year to give the promise and fulfill it in the same year? Why does God sometimes delay the fulfillment of His promises?

The key lies in the preparation. When the promise was released to Sarah, neither she nor Abraham was in the right condition to manifest it. The first thing God commanded Abraham to do was to leave his father’s land. “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.’” (Genesis 12:1). God knew that if Abraham stayed in his father’s land, the promise could be corrupted by the influences of that environment. God wants the promise to be pure and unaffected by outside forces.

When God gives you a promise, there may be a process of change required before it can manifest. Just as Abraham had to leave his homeland, we often need to be transformed in some way to align with God’s promise. Unfortunately, many people resist this transformation, and as a result, the promise remains unfulfilled.

Imagine being in Sarah’s shoes. You’ve lived your whole life barren, and just as you’re accepting this reality, someone comes along and tells you that you're going to have a child. “The Lord visited Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did for Sarah as He had spoken.” (Genesis 21:1). The first year passes—no child. The second year—still no child. Sarah starts doubting whether God truly spoke to her. In her frustration, she gives her servant Hagar to Abraham, thinking that perhaps the problem was with her. “So after Abram had been living in Canaan ten years, Sarai his wife took her Egyptian slave Hagar and gave her to her husband to be his wife.” (Genesis 16:3). But when Hagar became pregnant, Sarah became even more bitter and angry.

How often do we feel like Sarah, waiting for God's promise and growing impatient when it doesn't happen as quickly as we expected? In the New Testament, we see a similar story when Jesus receives word that Lazarus, whom He loves, is sick. Instead of rushing to heal him, Jesus delays for two more days. “So when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days.” (John 11:6). By the time He arrives, Lazarus has already died. We, too, cry out to God, wanting Him to act quickly, but His timing is perfect. The delay is not a denial but a setup for a greater miracle. “Then Jesus said, ‘Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?’” (John 11:40).

It was a greater miracle for Sarah to conceive at an old age. It was a greater miracle for Lazarus to be raised from the dead. In the same way, when God fulfills His promises in your life, it will be a greater testimony because of the process you’ve gone through. By the time your promise manifests, you will know that it was only by God’s grace. “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Do not give up on God. His promises never fail. “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11). Yes, it may take time, but consider the story of Sarah. She waited, but in the end, the promise was fulfilled.

The reason the promise may seem delayed in your life is because you have not yet become the person the promise is meant for. When God told Saul he would be king, the first thing that happened was that Saul became a different man. “As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.” (1 Samuel 10:9). I pray that you become the man or woman ready to receive the fulfillment of God’s promises in your life.

No matter what you are going through, I declare that you will see the fulfillment of every promise over your life, in Jesus' name. Amen.