God's Delay Has Purpose

"But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman" (Galatians 4:4).

When we would say God answered prayer in the nick of time, He would declare "the time had fully come." The secret to not losing heart when we experience a delayed answer to prayer is in trusting that His timing is better than ours.

God sometimes does delay His answer. When Joseph was in prison, the cupbearer promised to tell the Pharaoh about Joseph, but he "did not remember Joseph; he forgot him." Two full years passed before he remembered. God accomplishes more and His answers are more glorious than if He answered according to our timetable.

God always does the right thing. It may seem to us that He delays. But from His point of view, He acts speedily when the perfect time has fully come.

Perhaps Mary was desperate for her Son to come to her rescue at the wedding in Cana. (John 2) It was evident the wine was about to be depleted and the wedding party was still going strong. He heard her request but did not respond in a way that assured her He would take care of her concern.

Not until the wine was completely gone would the miracle be above suspicion. In Augustine's words, He might seem to have mingled elements rather than to have changed them.

Only after all other help fails does our faithful Helper arrive.

Thank You, Jesus, that Your delays are full of purpose.

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope" (Psalm 130:5).