Dealing with Delayed Dreams

For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end - it will not lie: If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay - Habakkuk 2:3 ESV

The word 'lie' here also means to 'disappoint'.

If you have a dream, whether something you dreamt at night or something you desire in your heart, if it came from God, know that it will not disappoint. If you feel disappointed because it has not happened yet, I would like to offer a different perspective on this period of waiting.

Blessing in Disguise

When I look at the journey of Joseph, I realise that there was no delay between the dreams he had as a teenager and their coming to pass when he was 30 years old. A lot of time passed, but there was no delay.

Delay means that something happens more slowly than it should, but Joseph's dreams came to pass at the exact right time — the time appointed by God. David said of Joseph:

Until the time that his word [of prophecy concerning his brothers] came true, the word of the Lord tested and refined him. — Psalms 105:19 (AMP)

The Hebrew word tsaraph, translated as 'tested and refined', refers to the process of melting metal with fire to purify it. There is no delay in the transition of the metal from impure to purified; there is only a process. And processes take time.

David would have been able to relate to this. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel as the next king of Israel while Saul was still king. Until the time that this word of prophecy came true, David continued to be a shepherd and was dismissed by his own brothers. Even after he killed the giant Goliath and ended up in the palace, he ducked spears, ran away from, and spent extended periods in hiding from King Saul, who wanted to kill him.

For both Joseph and David, time was necessary to develop the character required to rightly handle the promise they were waiting for. This makes time a blessing in disguise. The next time we have to wait, rather than complain or dwell on the gap between our expectations and current reality, let's ask God what we should be learning. I do not promise that this will speed things up, but it will bring confidence that God has a plan. We will be able to see the delay as evidence that we will get where and what God has promised. This period will then inspire rather than diminish our faith and hope.

Training Time

Soldiers are not generally focused on waiting for war; they are focused on training for it. The soldier who joined an army will not be the same in character, ability or knowledge in one, three, or five years — even if he or she does not see active service during this time. Soldiers undergo a continual process of refinement to prepare them for the purpose of the army. They may have individual aspirations, but their purposes need to align with and be subject to those of the army.

In the same way, as Christians, we are on a continual journey of refinement and training to equip us for God's purposes. The time between dreaming and seeing our dreams fulfilled is training time, not delay. There is an appointed time for our dreams to come true. We need to bear in mind that what God has for us to do is not merely to satisfy us but is for the furtherance of God's agenda on earth and for His glory. Therefore, the fulfilment of the dreams He gives us must be on His schedule, not ours.

What Are You Waiting For?

I was surprised to find that there are similarities between Saul and David. For example, both were described as handsome men (1 Samuel 9:2; 1 Samuel 16:12), both looked after their father's animals (1 Samuel 9:3; 1 Samuel 16:11), both were chosen by God to be kings of Israel and both were anointed by the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Samuel 16:12-13).

A significant difference was that after being chosen and anointed for the throne one went through a process before sitting on the throne, and one did not. It is estimated that 15 years passed between David's anointing and his becoming king. David's experiences during this time refined his character. He became known as a man after God's own heart (I Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), whereas Saul, although chosen by God, never fully submitted to God.

Knowing Saul's end and David's, which route would you prefer to take to your dreams? The short or the long route?

It may have seemed as though they were dealing with delayed dreams, but really, they had dreams worth waiting for. Joseph had to be ready for what he had dreamt, and David had to be ready for what he was anointed to do. Both were prepared through processes over time. They were not delayed.

A pregnancy is not a disappointing period of delay until the child is born; it is a time to celebrate and prepare for what is to come. So, consider what you are waiting for, get ready for its arrival and praise God that "it will surely come, it will not delay."

Blessing in Action - Dealing with Delayed Dreams

Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so that we can live in hope and endure all things. (Romans 15:5 TPT)

I encourage you to read (or listen to) and reflect on Joseph's journey in Genesis 37-50. This Biblical example of moving from dream to destiny will bless, encourage, and inspire.

Make notes as you do the following:

• Recall specific dreams or prophecies concerning you that you have not yet seen come to pass, including areas you believe you have been anointed in but are not walking in

• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you all the ways you have been and are being refined during this period

• Ask the Holy Spirit how you can cooperate with the process rather than fight against it

• Boldly declare: Lord, I trust you with all my heart during the process of refining and I believe that every dream You have and will give me will surely come to pass at their appointed time

Blessings!

Boma

Read this post on Hannah's Cupboard for more on the similarities and differences between Saul and David.

Share your thoughts on Dealing with Delayed Dreams in the comments below.