A book for seasons of waiting, reflection and renewed hope.
Can God Use Delay? · Raphael O. Ajiboye
DOES GOD USE DELAY?
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DOES GOD USE DELAY?
In this chapter, I aim to address the most significant question that crosses every man's mind: Does God employ delay?
In the previous chapters, you have explored various personalities and factors that cause delays. Perhaps you caught a glimpse of the solution to these delays. However, if you have ever experienced a delay, regardless of its nature – be it a mere one-minute delay in something reaching you – can you truly believe that God can utilize that brief moment for your benefit? Consider a scenario where you were scheduled to board a flight at 4:40 p.m., but due to unforeseen circumstances, the flight was delayed until 5 p.m. Can you rely on God to turn those 20 minutes into something good for you and others?
Perhaps it was a canceled appointment that led to the delay, or perhaps an error caused the setback. It could be a delay self-induced, influenced by the government, friends, colleagues, family members, a spouse, your boss, a business partner, or even a teacher. Natural disasters might be the cause, or in some extraordinary cases, it might seem as if the devil himself has appeared
in physical form to create delays. In the face of these challenges, can we rely on God to overcome these delays for our goods and other endeavors?
Perhaps it's even God Himself who ensures that delay. Can we trust Him to utilize this delay? Let's be frank and real here, dear reader; nobody likes delays, not even a one-second delay. How can we trust God to use what we do not like?
WHY DOES GOD ALLOW DELAY?
To address the question of whether God uses delay, we must first explore why He allows it in the first place.
Understanding why God permits delays will enable us to trust Him with the delays we have experienced, are currently enduring, or might face in the future.
Does God allow my money or salary to be delayed, and does He use this time frame for my benefit? Is that what you're suggesting? Yes, absolutely yes! It's essential to remember that He is not the cause of the delays. However, when a delay occurs in the life of a son or daughter of God, we can acknowledge that God allows it to happen. And now that it has occurred, we can find solace in the knowledge that God is utilizing it for our good.
The truth is, God can compel anyone who owes you money to experience sleepless nights until they diligently work to repay you. However, God doesn't
always resort to such measures, despite the biblical wisdom found in Proverbs 21:1 NKJV, which states,
“The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, Like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
Often, we find ourselves praying fervently, imploring God to intervene, saying, 'God, urge this person to give me what is rightfully mine.' Sometimes, these prayers are answered, yet at other times, the answers to these prayers may not come when we need them due to the motivations behind them; either they are not rooted in love or they are fueled by desperation.
In any case, God's actions on behalf of a Christian involve allowing challenges posed by the devil and his agents. They may throw their best shots, but God, in His infinite wisdom, shields and provides for His own. When people owe you, and yet you survive amidst your pressing needs, that delay is God's way of working in your life.
When there is a delay, and you emerge stronger and more prepared, that delay is God shaping your character.
If after experiencing a delay, the situation doesn't align with your previous circumstances, that is God's way of orchestrating the delay for your ultimate benefit. These truths should never fade from your memory. Dear friends, if God permits it, it is for your good! Rejoice in the knowledge that God's timing is perfect, and His plan for you is always unfolding.
Everywhere in the Bible, delays are evident. If you look closely, you will notice instances where God could have simply performed a single miracle, eliminating the devil or anyone or anything responsible.
Indeed, in many places, God did so. However, in some situations, God appears to be exceptionally deliberate in bringing about what needed to happen.
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