In prayer, I was led to this PROMISE and reassurance!

“At the right time; I, The Lord, will make it happen.”
Isaiah 60:22

God’s timing is never early, never late—it is perfect. You may not see movement right now. The breakthrough may seem delayed. But God is not idle. Behind the scenes, He is aligning people, situations, and outcomes according to His purpose.

We will take a slight detour to review the life of Joseph:

The biblical story of Joseph, found in the Book of Genesis, recounts how Jacob’s favored son, given a special coat of many colors, was sold into slavery by his jealous brothers. Joseph was taken to Egypt, where he achieved great success under Potiphar, but was then imprisoned after being falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife. After interpreting Pharaoh‘s dreams, Joseph rose to become second-in-command of Egypt, saving the nation from a devastating famine. During the famine, his brothers came to him for food, and Joseph, recognizing them but not being recognized, tested them before revealing his identity and ultimately forgiving them, turning their evil into a means for God’s plan to preserve lives and fulfill promises.
 

Early Life and Betrayal

• Joseph was the favorite son of Jacob (also known as Israel) and received a special coat from his father. 
• His brothers were jealous of him and his father’s favoritism, which was fueled by Joseph’s dreams of their bowing down to him. 
• His brothers initially planned to kill him but ultimately sold him into slavery to Midianite traders heading to Egypt. 

Slavery and Imprisonment in Egypt 

• Joseph was sold to Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh’s guard. 
• He was successful in Potiphar’s household until Potiphar’s wife falsely accused him of attempted rape. 
• Joseph was thrown into prison, where he later interpreted the dreams of the chief butler and baker. 

Rise to Power and Saving Egypt 

• Two years after the butler’s release, Pharaoh had troubling dreams. 
• The butler remembered Joseph, who was brought from prison to interpret the dreams, which foretold seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. 
• Pharaoh promoted Joseph to be in charge of the entire land, where he implemented a plan to store grain during the years of plenty. 

Reconciliation and God’s Plan

• When the famine struck, Joseph’s brothers came to Egypt seeking food. 
• Joseph recognized them, but they did not recognize him. 
• After testing his brothers and leading them to a place of repentance for their earlier actions, Joseph revealed his identity. 
• Joseph reassured his brothers that their act of selling him was not the end of his story, but part of God’s larger plan to save lives. 
• He forgave his brothers, and their family settled in Egypt, though Joseph instructed his people to carry his bones to the Land of Promise upon their eventual exodus. 

We could go on indefinitely! Bible stories about waiting on God include Abraham and Sarah waiting 25 years for their son Isaac, Joseph waiting 13 years for his release from prison and vindication, and the Israelites enduring 40 years of wandering before entering the Promised Land. Other examples are David waiting to become king, Elijah waiting for rain, and even Jesus waiting 30 years to begin his earthly ministry. These stories teach about trusting God’s timing and faithfulness even when His promises seem slow to come. 

Abraham and Sarah

• The Promise: God promised Abraham a great nation and a son, but they were both very old, with Sarah being past childbearing age. 
• The Wait: They waited 25 years for the promise to be fulfilled. 
• The Fulfillment: God kept His promise by giving them Isaac, fulfilling the promise despite the long wait and Sarah’s initial disbelief. 

Joseph (whom we are discussing in this share.)

• The Sufferings: Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and later falsely accused and imprisoned. 
• The Wait: He endured 13 years of suffering and imprisonment. 
• The Vindication: God eventually raised him up to a position of power in Egypt, saving his family and many others from famine and fulfilling his dreams. 

The Israelites 

• The Slavery and Deliverance: The Israelites were enslaved in Egypt for 400 years and then, after being set free, faced their next wait.
• The Wilderness: After leaving Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years.
• The Fulfillment: God provided for them in the desert and ultimately led them to the land He had promised them.

Other Key Figures

• David (A Man after God’s heart): David had to wait many years for the promise of becoming king of Israel to be fulfilled. “David, a man after God’s own heart” describes King David’s deep and abiding love for God, characterized by faith, obedience, a longing for God’s presence, and repentance for his sins. This designation from the Bible, in 1 Samuel 13:14 and Acts 13:22, highlights his desire to live according to God’s will, even though he committed serious sins like adultery and murder, demonstrating that his orientation was consistently toward God despite human failing. 
  Key Aspects of David’s Character
  Love for God: David’s primary motivation was a deep, personal love and yearning for God’s presence, wanting Him above all else. 
  Faith and Obedience: He consistently trusted God and demonstrated unwavering faith, even in the face of great danger (like facing Goliath). 
  Repentance and Contrition: When he sinned, David did not deflect blame but confessed his wrongdoing, showing a broken and contrite spirit and a desire to be restored by God. 
  Hunger for God’s Word: He delighted in God’s law and sought to live by its principles. 
  Seeking God’s Presence: David was known for his solitary times of worship and reflection, where he would connect with God and long to hear His voice. 
  Why He Is Not Perfect
  The description of David as a “man after God’s own heart” does not mean he was sinless. 
  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and orchestrated the murder of Uriah, his wife’s husband. 
  The important point is that his heart’s ultimate direction was toward God, and he repented and returned to God after his sins. 
  Significance 
  David serves as an example that being a man or woman after God’s heart is less about perfection and more about a sustained direction of the heart toward God and a consistent desire to please Him.
  His life shows that even those who fall into serious sin can be considered after God’s heart if they maintain a deep love for God and a sincere repentance when they stray.
• Elijah: The prophet Elijah waited for God’s instruction to bring an end to a famine by calling down rain after a powerful confrontation with the prophets of Baal. Elijah was an Israelite prophet in the 9th century BCE, known for his courage, deep faith, and powerful connection to God, confronting King Ahab and the people’s worship of Baal and pronouncing a devastating drought. His life was marked by extraordinary acts, including defeating the prophets of Baal, being miraculously sustained, and ultimately being taken to heaven in a whirlwind and chariot. Characteristics include passion for God’s glory, obedience, prayerfulness, and periods of fear, depression, and emotional swings, making him relatable despite his extraordinary feats.
   
  Elijah’s Characteristics
  Courage and Boldness:
  He fearlessly confronted King Ahab and Jezebel, proclaiming a drought and challenging the prophets of Baal. 
  Prayerfulness:
  His commitment to prayer was central to his relationship with God, evident in his challenge on Mount Carmel. 
  Obedience:
  He consistently followed God’s commands, even when they led him to dangerous or isolated situations. 
  Passion for God’s Glory:
  Elijah had an intense desire to see Israel return to worshipping the true God and abandon idolatry. 
  Emotional Extremes:
  While passionate, he also experienced significant emotional swings, including periods of depression and despair where he wanted to die. 
  Physical Traits:
  He was a “hairy man” with rugged living habits, suggesting an outdoor, rugged lifestyle. 
  Elijah’s Life Story
  Background:
  Elijah was a prophet from Tishbe, an unknown town, and was a “common” man chosen by God to deliver a message of repentance to a wayward nation. 
  Context of Ministry:
  He ministered during a time when the people of Israel, under King Ahab and his foreign wife Jezebel, had turned to worshipping the Canaanite god Baal. 
  Confronting Idolatry:
  To challenge the dominance of Baal, Elijah pronounced a drought on the land, a powerful declaration against a god believed to control rain. 
  Miracles and Sustenance:
  He was miraculously fed by ravens and later sustained by a widow in Zarephath. 
  Mount Carmel Showdown:
  In a dramatic public event, Elijah challenged and defeated 450 prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel, proving the power of the Lord. 
  Divine Encounters:
  He encountered God at Mount Horeb (Sinai) where he was encouraged and later had a conversation with God in a cave. 
  Ascension:
  Elijah did not die a normal death; he was taken to heaven in a whirlwind and a fiery chariot, a unique event in the biblical narrative. 
  Significance
  Restoration of True Worship:
  Elijah was a key figure in preserving the religion of Yahweh from being corrupted by the nature worship of Baal. 
  Symbol of God’s Presence:
  His ministry was a testament to the power of God and His willingness to intervene in the lives of His people. 
  Enduring Example:
  Elijah is remembered as a figure who demonstrated faith and obedience in a challenging world, providing an example for others. 
• Jesus: Even Jesus waited for 30 years before starting His public ministry and fulfilling His Father’s will. 

If you’re waiting on something—healing, restoration, direction, or provision—don’t lose hope. What God has spoken over your life will come to pass. Delay doesn’t mean denial; it means preparation. God is shaping your heart, building your faith, and setting the stage for His perfect plan.

Keep praying. Keep trusting. Don’t rush the process. What He has ordained for your life will happen… at the right time.

Hold on. His timing will be worth the wait. God bless you abundantly, Amen.