SOLD BUT SENT - HOW TO COPE WITH DELAY

This article basically addresses a particular issue that confronts human beings – delay. It happens to both believers and unbelievers alike.

Delay is a situation in which something does not happen or start when it should, a situation in which someone is made to wait. For example, when a couple gets married, a child is expected to come forth after a few years of their union, an individual who has just graduated begins to strive to get a job immediately; a business man who has made investment in certain businesses expects yields of profit as at when due, et. c. When all these expected things do not happen
after their stipulated due dates/period, then we say that there is a delay.

Let’s draw out some lessons from certain characters of the Bible who experienced delay in order that we may get encouragement. Rom 5:14 says that Everything written long ago was written to teach us so that we would have confidence through the endurance and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. (1 Cor 10:6-11)

ZACHARIAS Luke 1:1-80

Zacharias was a priest found wanting in nothing but his wife was confirmed barren and they were both very old. One day, while he performed his duties in the Temple, he had an encounter with the angel of the Lord, even people around could see that something had happened to him, you know the rest of the story.

DISCOURAGEMENT is a factor that usually attaches itself to delay. It is a feeling or an attitude which shows that you have lost confidence or determination and you no longer want to continue doing something. After his wife, Elizabeth had been confirmed to be barren, he possibly would have become discouraged, discouraged from dutifully serving the God who alone gives children.

JOB

The calamity that befell Job was so great that he wished for death (Job 1:13-21; Job 10: 19; Job 3:1-11). Job lost everything. His wife and friends made matters worse by condemning him in no small way (Job 2:9; Job 11:6). Everyone despised him in the days of his affliction.

Job was ready to go all the way, he made up his mind never to curse God even in the face of REJECTION (Job 19:13-19). This is another factor that comes with delay. When certain things are being delayed in your life, people around cannot understand, they unconsciously label you, they act/behave in a certain way when you are around. Job did not allow all these to run him down, he held on and hoped for the best – waited in patience until change came

DAVID

He was the least child of the family and according to human standards and societal viewpoint – the most unrecognized. After God rejected Saul and selected David as King of Isreal (1 Sam 13:14-15; 1 Sam 16:11-12), he was despised by His siblings. It was God’s way of training Him, his track record proves that God had been training him to become a mighty warrior (1 Sam 17:34-37). After David was anointed king, you would  wonder how he was going to take the throne immediately but this did not happen, instead, he began to experience a lot of torture from Saul who attempted (several times) to kill him. David was demoted, yet he became more popular, he could have died among the philistines, but he kept gaining battle experiences.

David had opportunities to get Saul out of his way to the throne by killing him but he chanelled his energy towards things that were more rewarding. He probably had to deal with ANGER/FURY but he allowed Saul to continue the chase, hoping that one day, he (David) will be chased to the throne. Sometimes in the period of delay, ANGER might set in. you must dissipate your energy towards something profitable, not only to you but profitable to others. Take your mind off the people who you think are standing in your way or the people who you know are in the position to help you and have refused to do so. Go out and find out what help you can render to others and watch God take you where He wants you to be.

JOSEPH

Hmmm! The dreamer! His siblings hated him. To everyone around, it was impossibility for Joseph’s dream to ever come true. With that kind of dream, the journey to greatness should have started since he was aged 17. Yes, the journey actually began but in an unprecedented manner. He was kidnapped then thrown into the pit, from the pit to Potiphar’s house (as a slave) and from Potiphar’s house into the prison. God had designed all these places for him as training colleges and he went into all these places and he prospered (Gen 39:2-4; Gen 20:23).

Maybe Joseph had to deal with SELF-PITY. He did not develop an attitude of feeling sorry for himself neither did he gather together a pity-party. The only instance recorded where he mentioned his case to someone, it was not in search of pity but he simply made statements of truth and optimism.

Joseph’s dream came to pass 22 years after he had dreamt. Within this period, he did not give up. He took every opportunity to explore his talent. He was a blessing to the people around him and in the process of doing all that; he was picked out for greatness. You must observe that the art of interpreting Pharaoh’s dream was just about a normal activity for him.

Down the line, when his siblings came in search of food, he did not launch out a revenge spree on them by poisoning their food; instead he gave them plenty of food without charges. He concluded that God had sent him ahead to Egypt to the intent that he might preserve lives (Gen 45:5, 8). His brothers meant him ill and sold him out but Joseph saw it all from a different perspective – he was SOLD BUT SENT (psalms 105:17- He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant :)

LESSONS

When you pass through a period of delay, it is very important that you get things straight with God. Zacharias and his wife were righteous before God (Luke 1:6).you cannot expect God to give you a child while you are busy sowing seeds of wickedness. You must be completely sure that you are a friend of God indeed and an enemy of the world (Jas 4:4 0- know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God)

Having resolved this, your love for God should propel your service to Him. You must find the specific assignment given to you to do for the furtherance of His kingdom here on earth. This may include performing a regular task/duty in your local assembly – it is called ‘labour of love’(Heb 6:10). You must apply diligence, because that is the way to combat discouragement and that is how your reward will come (1 Cor 15:58 - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord). The day that the lot fell on Zacharias, he was right at his duty post.

If you are facing rejection because of a particular delay, go back to the Word. If He has placed a dream, or a promise in your heart, you must go back to Him and reassure yourself  knowing that He who began a good work in you is able and faithful to complete it (Phil 1:6). You must first encourage yourself in the Lord and let the Holy Spirit who alone has the right words speak to you.

Never ever wish for death. It is not the end but just a bend. Job makes us to understand that delay has duration of time so you cannot chicken out by quitting (Job 14:7-9, 14).

You have to patiently wait and endure.

While you are waiting, there must be something God’s teaching you; you will do well to learn all that you need to learn. For Joseph, it was the time to cultivate leadership skills and grow in problem-solving capabilities. For David, it was the time to recruit soldiers and to build an army, to write psalms and poems which today we call ‘the book of Psalms’.

What has God placed in your heart to do today? When the delay period is over, what would you have to show for the years you have spent waiting? Just start off today and watch Him take you to the place he had designed just for you.