There are several times in the Bible that we see God telling someone that He is going to do something. Then that person has to wait, oftentimes years, to see that come to pass. We can see this with Abraham having to wait 25 years to see God’s promise fulfilled through the birth of Isaac. With David, we can see that he waited roughly 15 years to see God’s promise fulfilled that he would be king.
Recently, as I was reading in Acts, I saw another time that God had someone wait. In Acts 23:11 (NIV) it states, “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, “Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.” God tells to Paul as Paul is imprisoned in Jerusalem. I am sure at the time, Paul could not figure out how God was going to change his circumstance and take him to Rome. It takes almost 3 years, but Paul did see this promise fulfilled.
How often do we hear God speak about how He wants to bless us and yet, it seems like nothing is happening? Oftentimes, God will give us glimpses into His plan, but He does not often give us glimpses into His timeline. I think God does this to give us hope that our current situation will change. God does not want us, though, to focus on the future and miss out on what He is still doing in the present. Paul did not get so wrapped up in Rome that he stopped trying to witness to the people around him. He kept doing God’s work in Jerusalem. God wants us to be patient and to remain faithful in serving where we are.
If you are struggling with waiting for God to fulfill what He has shown you, take courage. God knows what He is doing, and His timing is always perfect. Continue to serve God where you are wholeheartedly and allow God to take care of everything else behind the scenes.