What Is The Purpose of This Delay? Here’s Your Answer.
In this powerful devotion, Dianna Hobbs reminds us that God’s delays aren’t denials but deliberate timing. When things feel delayed, remember: God’s purpose is always on time.
Credit: Getty/LaylaBird
Have you ever felt like God’s answer is late? That somehow, despite your faithfulness, He has overlooked you and failed to fulfill His promises?
Friend, let me assure you—He hasn’t failed you. I promise.
Throughout my journey, I’ve experienced many moments of frustration when I couldn’t see or understand God’s timing. I’ve faced delays in so many areas, often due to illness and lengthy setbacks. It’s been a rollercoaster of faith, full of ups and downs, twists and turns. Many things I believed God had shown and promised me didn’t happen when I hoped or expected they would.
Yet, in the past few weeks, something amazing has unfolded. I released my new single, “Don’t Know Why,” signed with a record label, accepted a management deal, and embraced new ministry opportunities—blessings I once thought were out of reach, especially after sustaining a brain injury five years ago.
But that wasn’t the only struggle. Since 2011, after nearly losing my life during surgery to repair a severe break in my left wrist, which required a metal plate and screws, I’ve endured countless health challenges over the last 14 years. Seasons of painful, puzzling, and sometimes paralyzing ordeals have left me feeling weak—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Even in the darkest times, though, I never stopped serving God or declaring His faithfulness. God knew He had called me “for such a time as this,” and although my breakthrough seemed delayed, it wasn’t. His timing was perfect all along.
Listen, I understand that waiting can feel like a heavy burden, especially when prayers seem unanswered, promises remain unfulfilled, and prophecies seem hidden. In these moments, as time feels like it’s slipping away, doubt can whisper, “Did God truly hear you?”
God sent me to encourage you: He has heard your cry.
In my last devotion, I shared the story of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Perhaps you read it. I thought I was finished, but God led me back to it, urging me to remind you that His timing isn’t about delay; it’s about divine strategy.
God's Perfect Plan in a Barren Season
In Luke 1, we meet Elizabeth and Zechariah, devout servants of God from a priestly lineage. Despite their unwavering faithfulness, they faced a deep heartache: they were childless. Their barrenness, in a culture that placed immense value on children, brought both sorrow and social stigma. To any observer, their situation might have seemed unfair.
But here’s the thing: God’s plans were unfolding in ways they couldn’t see. In what appeared to be a season of emptiness, God was preparing to fill Elizabeth’s womb—and their lives—with something extraordinary. The silence they endured wasn’t God’s absence; it was His preparation for something great.
By human standards, the timing seemed off. But God’s timing was flawless. When the Lord opened Elizabeth’s womb, allowing her to give birth to John the Baptist, Israel was under the oppressive reign of the Roman Empire, with Tiberius Caesar as emperor and Pontius Pilate as governor of Judea (Luke 3:1). The people were desperate for a savior, longing for the promised Messiah who would restore their hope and freedom.
Amid this backdrop of political unrest and spiritual yearning, God chose Elizabeth and Zechariah to bring forth a child who would prepare the way for the Messiah. As Isaiah had prophesied, John would be the voice crying in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight paths for Him” (Mark 1:2-3).
Just as Israel had waited centuries for the Messiah, Elizabeth and Zechariah had waited beyond their prime years to hold a child. Their waiting wasn’t a coincidence; it was part of a divine strategy. John’s birth would herald Jesus’s coming, calling people to repentance and preparing hearts to receive the Savior.
God's Deliberate Delay
In Luke 1:36, the angel Gabriel, who had appeared to Zechariah in the temple, tells Mary that her relative Elizabeth is six months pregnant. Mary would bear Jesus, and Elizabeth would bear John, their pregnancies separated by just half a year. This timing was significant: John’s ministry would align perfectly with Jesus’s, paving the way for the One who would save the world.
God’s wisdom was woven through Elizabeth’s and Mary’s pregnancies. By delaying Elizabeth’s conception, He ensured John would arrive at just the right time, uniquely positioned in both family and divine purpose. When it seems like God is late, remember: His delays aren’t denials; they are strategic pauses, crafted with precision to bring about the miraculous. The timing of your prayers’ fulfillment is not determined by human preference but by divine purpose.
Elizabeth likely endured years of frustration, wondering why her pregnancy never came by ordinary means. But God was holding her womb in reserve for something truly extraordinary.
“God is about to release a major breakthrough in your life—something He’s kept in reserve just for you. Get ready; it’s manifestation season!”
Trusting the Process
God’s timing can feel mysterious, even unfair, but Elizabeth and Zechariah’s story teaches us that every moment of waiting has meaning. Their years of faithfulness didn’t go unnoticed; they were chosen for a unique purpose, despite the pain they endured along the way.
Their process didn’t feel good, but the outcome was glorious. The journey was confusing, but the result was divinely orchestrated. The waiting felt endless, but the fulfillment was miraculous.The struggle felt like defeat, but the outcome was victory.
As you reflect on your own life, take comfort in knowing that God’s delays are deliberate. His promises never fail or expire. When you can’t see what He’s doing, trust that He is working behind the scenes, preparing you and the world around you for what you’re about to step into.
Who is this word for?
What God is about to do in your life must unfold at precisely the right time. He’s orchestrating events you can’t see, putting plans in motion you can’t perceive, and making ways you can’t yet recognize. God is setting the stage for something far greater than you could plan. His timing is always perfect, and the answers to your prayers will arrive at exactly the right moment.
Critical Giving Opportunity
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It's Coming
God told me to simply tell someone reading this, it’s coming. The approval is coming. The job is coming. The spouse is coming. The baby is coming. The door is opening. The deal is closing. Blessings are flowing to you right now as you read this.
Trust God’s strategy, knowing that He is ever faithful and true. Just as I did in my previous devotion, I’m stirring Luke 1:37 NLT as the sweetener to your cup of inspiration: “For the word of God will never fail.”
As you drink down the contents of your cup, let the testimony of Scripture—and my own testimony—remind you that no matter how much time has passed, God’s purpose will prevail.
Don’t lose hope, friend. Be encouraged.
Now, let’s pray.
God, thank You for being a God who knows exactly what I need and when I need it. Even when I feel impatient or discouraged, remind me that Your timing is perfect and Your plans are good. Help me trust You in every season of waiting, knowing that each delay serves a purpose beyond my understanding. Strengthen my faith, renew my hope, and fill me with peace, knowing You are in control. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
Watch the video for Dianna Hobbs’ worship anthem, “Don’t Know Why,” and be blessed!
