Delay causes us to see what is in our hearts that needs to be dealt with!
The children of Israel feared men more than they feared GOD. That was true of King Saul as well. Delay revealed this fear in both stories.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
GOD is sovereign and, in the end, HIS Divine Intent will prevail over any issues you are dealing with. Even though you are going through tests and trials, you should give thanks that HE will work things out on your behalf.
Anxiety is the cause of spiritual dementia. You have forgotten all HIS benefits. Anxiety causes you to forget GOD’S promises, to forget what HE has done, we don’t recall the testimonies of THE LORD.
Learning how to simplify in the delayed seasons is critical. We need to simplify our lives so that we are not spread to thin so that we can keep anchored in what FATHER has said.
Complexity encourages confusion. Simplification encourages clarity.
We should go back to confessing what THE LORD has said, declaring what HE has promised. The battle over the hearts and mind is huge in seasons of delay. Our progress is that we have remained faithful during the time of delay. Our hope has not wavered, and we have not allowed ourselves to become depressed or filled with anxiety.
THE LORD is constantly measuring us in what we can handle or carry. Our stewardship of what we are successful with now will determine what we will be given later. With this understanding, let us look at the Parable of the Talents.
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 25:
14 “Again, Heaven’s Kingdom is like a Wealthy Man Who went on a long journey and summoned all His trusted servants and assigned His financial management over to them.
It is vital that we understand the servants were all believers.
15 Before he left on his journey, He entrusted a bag of five thousand gold coins to one of His servants, to another a bag of two thousand gold coins, and to the third a bag of one thousand gold coins, each according to his ability to manage.
FATHER will only give us what we can potentially manage at the time.
16 “The one entrusted with five thousand gold coins immediately went out and traded with the money, and he doubled his investment.
17 In the same way, the one who was entrusted with two thousand gold coins traded with the sum and likewise doubled his investment.
18 But the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.
19 “After much time had passed, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants.
20 The one who was entrusted with five thousand gold coins came and brought ten thousand, saying, ‘See, I have doubled your money.’
21 “Commending his servant, The Master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be My loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of Your Lord!” ’
With what we have been given, we are to prove ourselves loyal and trustworthy. In return, we will be entrusted with greater responsibility and resources.
22 “Then the one who had been entrusted with two thousand gold coins came in and said, ‘See, My Master, I have doubled what You have entrusted to me.’
23 “Commending his servant, The Master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be My loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you were faithful to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of Your Master, Who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of Your Lord!” ’
We must not compare ourselves to others who may have greater resources. We are to focus on our own calling.
24 “Then the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins came to His Master and said, ‘Look, sir. I know that you are a hard man to please and you’re a shrewd and ruthless businessman who grows rich on the backs of others. 25 I was afraid of you, so I went and hid your money and buried it in the ground. But here it is—take it, it’s yours.’
26 “But His Master said to him, ‘You’re an untrustworthy and lazy servant! If you knew I was a shrewd and ruthless businessman who always makes a profit, why didn’t you deposit My money in the bank?
27 Then I would have received it all back with interest when I returned.
28 But because you were unfaithful, I will take the one thousand gold coins and give them to the one who has ten thousand.
THE LORD judged the man for being not only lazy, but also untrustworthy. He did nothing for The Kingdom.
29 For the one who has will be given more, until he overflows with abundance. And the one with hardly anything, even what little he has will be taken from him.’ 30 “Then the master said to his other servants, ‘Now, throw that good-for-nothing servant far away from me into the outer darkness, where there will be great misery and anguish!’ ”
Those who are trustworthy will overflow with abundance. Those who aren’t, will suffer severe judgment. It’s your decision.