The Bible is full of God’s promises and His bringing them forth, but it also full of people who had to wait for them to manifest. The Psalmist cried out while waiting, “Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? Arise! Do not cast us off forever.” Ps 44:23 He goes on to ask God why He is hiding His face. But before he cried out to God in this manner he reminded the Lord of His goodness even though He had not responded according to the need. Many times it seems as if God has hidden His face, nonetheless, we should start our talks out with Him in gratitude of Him and not only what He gives or will do for us. Even when it seems as if God is hiding His face from us and has fallen asleep at our expense, we have His promises that say otherwise. We must be the kind of people who walk by faith and not by sight.
All of us have at one time or another cried out to God in need of an answer or help only to find His voice silent. The good news is God is never surprised by our impatience nor does it cause Him to act before His time. He knows what we need and when we need it, and if we received everything all at once, we would not grow in maturity as He desires us to do.
Godliness comes forth in Heaven's waiting room.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. - 2Pe 1:5-7 NKJV
There is a process of godliness, and it is done through slowly answered prayers, unanswered prayers, and the listening and watching stage of a relationship with God. God is not slack in His promises, but we are often quick to blame Him as such.
2 Peter 1 tells us that if we allow faith to have its perfect work, we will never be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus. There is a recipe for godliness, but it requires the ingredients of the Holy Spirit, and it demands us to desire these things. We must activate our faith and add to it. If we lack the ability to add virtue to our faith and knowledge to virtue, adding self-control, perseverance, kindness, and love, then we certainly lack the godliness that salvation requires us to walk in. We were created in the image of God and called to be separate from the world and to be holy. This is a process that starts with the daily reminder that we are cleansed from our old sins, and a way has been made for us to be all that we are called to be.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, [you] will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. - 2Pe 1:8-9 NKJV
Notice 2 Peter started with faith and then we are to add to it. James 1 tells us that faith produces patience, but we must allow patience to have its perfect work so we may be complete and lack nothing.
Okay, so what does this have to do with God not being slack in His promise? I’m glad you asked because it is very relevant. I remember as a child when a parent wouldn’t give me what I wanted, and when asked why not, their response was often, “because you’re not old enough for that yet?” Sometimes God's answer is similar, “you haven’t reached the stage of maturity to handle that yet.” If we are given something before its time, we are unlikely to grow from the result. Trials and tribulations are imminent, and we must learn from them, failing to may result in a backslidden life and one that can lead to reckless endangerment to our salvation.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6 KJV
Our faith is relevant to receiving from the Lord as well. We are to ask of God without doubting and with the belief that He is and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The word diligently means to investigate, crave, and even demand the promises of God. If we are doing all that is required on our behalf, then God will answer….in His time.
Some of the promises that we can rest on begin with our salvation; if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom 10:9) “Whoever believed on Him will not be put to shame.” (Rom 10:11). Once we are fully assured that what we speak out of our mouths is aligned with belief in the heart, then all the promises of God are for us. We can be assured of receiving wisdom abundantly and without reproach when we ask God for it (James 1:5). God promises that if we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. But following this promise is a command to Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Jam 4:8)
All of God’s promises are conditioned on our belief and faith rooted in our salvation as well as our obedience. His promises are for all who would call on His name and live by His commandments. God has been this way from the beginning of creation with Adam and Eve. He does not change for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
If you have grown weary of waiting for God to come through with His promises, then I suggest a couple of things. First, take the scriptures you have just read along with the following verses and put them in your heart every day. Praise the Lord for His unfailing love for you and allow Him to have your entire heart, mind, and soul in praise for praise will always bring about the presence of the Lord.
Remember the promise in Jeremiah, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jer 33:3
When we are in need of answers even the ones that only God can reveal, He promises that if we seek, we will find. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. - Mat 7:7 NKJV
One thing that we must remember is that "God [is] not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? - Num 23:19 NKJV
We mustn’t compare God with a man because man will always fail us but the scriptures tell us that God will not forsake us nor leave us. Our promises reside within the word of God, and do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day [is] as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning [His] promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. - 2Pe 3:8-9 NKJV
His promise is an announcement, a pledge and divine assurance of good. He will bring to completion everything He has ever begun. Stay encouraged and remember when you have done all you can to stand….stand.
Let’s Pray,
Heavenly Father, today I give thanks to You for Your word that is always true and perfect. I believe that in due season You will perform Your word that is spoken over me and today I ask for Your help with unbelief. I confess it has been difficult to believe at times that You are even listening to my prayers, but today I choose faith. I am seeking You for wisdom, understanding, and an increase in confidence that I might be able to stay the course in which You have set me on. Give me according to Your will and not my own, that I may prosper in all things. In Jesus name, Amen