God's Delay Is Not Denial

One morning a young man told me he and his wife would be house-hunting that day. "After looking yesterday, it seems impossible for us to find what we need in the right location," he said.

I recalled that a few weeks earlier his wife had told me of her peace concerning this move and of their confidence that God would help them find a place to live. So I shared with him something I had noticed in reading John 11 that morning.

Jesus told the disciples, "This sickness will not end in death," but a few verses later, he said, "Lazarus is dead."

Often our faith goes through a severe testing when we can plainly see "Lazarus is dead."

The temptation to doubt comes to all Christians, but with the help of the Spirit, we can resist that temptation just as we can resist a temptation to be bitter or unkind. If we resist Satan in a moment of temptation, our faith is strengthened.

If we are certain we have believed God for something, then "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).

God's delay is not denial, so His delay should not discourage us.

Thank You, Jesus, that someday I will be able to look back and see that You answered my prayer perfectly.

"...those who hope in me will not be disappointed" (Isaiah 49:23).