I don’t know how long it took for the world to come together or for the red sea’s waters to gather in a heap so the people could cross. I know that Ezekiel heard the sound of dry bones rattling as he spoke the words that God told him to. I know that Abraham waited 25 years for the promise that God spoke.
It takes nine months for a baby to come to term in a woman’s body. Many things are happening during that time. Cells are replicating, weight is gained, and organs are formed and become functional. There is so much more going on at a rapid pace. It actually is rapid for the amount that is happening, but when you’re carrying it…it seems much longer. All we see is a swelling belly, and a mother, family, and friends varied reactions. If you are fortunate enough to have a sonogram, you can see a bit more.
There is so much to prepare for in that time. Getting a room or dwelling place is only a small part. Our hearts are enlarging for what is to come. As my own children were developing and growing inside me, I began to bond with them. As I prayed for them, I could feel their personhood or personality developing. It was clear that God had an individual and specific plan for each of their lives. With each one he would show me something small about them.
An elephant carries their babies for almost 2 years and a mouse for almost 3 weeks. A woman carries a baby for 9 months. Do you see a pattern here?
Abraham’s promise birthed an entire nation and it incubated for 25 years. I’m not going to say the size of the promise gives the exact size of what’s coming, but there may be some correlation. Imagine the amount of preparation involved and the importance of full-term delivery. There are milestones that need to be reached. The amount of work and development that God does during this time is enormous and important for healthy development. The work we are doing is a healthy diet of whatever God has told us to do. Plus, we need the essential vitamins of His Word, prayer, and worship are essential.
Abraham’s promise wasn’t just for himself. God had a plan and a desire to see something birthed into the earth, a nation. He had a people that he wanted to bring forth. To fill his vision, he desired to partner with someone to bring it about.
I would say that it wasn’t just Isaac that was being birthed. A father and mother were being birthed. I wasn’t born a mother, my kids made me one. God made Abraham into a father, not just a recipient. To be God’s kind of father, there is a lot more giving, nurturing, teaching, and leading than just a receiver of something.
Our promises were never meant just for us. If your promise is taking longer than you had thought or hoped, rest assured that there is critical development taking place that you cannot see. Know that as much as you are waiting, so is God. He wants to see that which has been placed in you come to full readiness, so it can go out and do what it was meant to do.
As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isa.55:11)
Praying for his presence to be with you and upon you.
(The painting section above is one I’m working on, almost done, no title yet, 16 x 20″.
Melicia Evans 