What If the Promise Is Taking Too Long?
Have you ever found yourself questioning God's timing? You know the promise. You believe the Word. But as days turn into years, your faith feels tired, your heart weary, and the voice of doubt grows louder. “Did God really say?” “Did I hear Him wrong?” “Is this even worth it?”
You're not alone.
When Israel finally stepped into the land that God had promised their ancestors, it wasn’t overnight. It was the fulfillment of a 500-year-old promise. Joshua 21:45 says, “Not one of the Lord’s faithful promises to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; every one was realized.” That’s the kind of sentence that stirs faith—but only if we remember the long road behind it.
This wasn’t a fairy tale ending. It was the reward of perseverance. These were people who had wandered, battled, obeyed, doubted, repented, and kept going. It’s a reminder: God’s promises are real, but they often require participation and perseverance.
Promises Are Real—But So Is the Wait
God promised Abraham land and descendants when he was 75. He died before he saw it fulfilled. Isaac and Jacob carried the same promise, passing it from generation to generation. There were moments of deep doubt—Abraham even asked God, “How can I know that I will possess it?” (Genesis 15). And instead of rebuking Abraham, God made a covenant. He didn’t just speak a promise—He bound Himself to it.
But even with that covenant, fulfillment wasn’t instant. That’s where faith grows—where perseverance is built.
Participation Is Required
Joshua 21:43–44 says that the Lord gave Israel all the land He had promised—and they conquered it. God gave it. But they still had to fight for it.
Maybe that’s where you are. You’re waiting for God to move, and yet He’s inviting you to take a step. Sometimes we mislabel passivity as “trust,” when really God is asking us to show up in faith. His power will do the heavy lifting—but we still need to move our feet.
Don’t underestimate the importance of simple obedience. It might not look like a parting sea. It might just be showing up again in prayer, continuing to serve, standing in worship when you feel like sitting in silence. But it counts.
A Promise Beyond Our Timeline
God’s promise wasn’t just for Abraham—it was for generations. Some promises are fulfilled in your lifetime; others begin with you and bloom long after. That doesn’t mean they’re any less real.
We live in an age of “now,” but God plays the long game. What feels like delay might actually be perfect placement.
Joshua 21 tells us that Israel hadn’t fully occupied the land, but the promise was still considered fulfilled. That’s perspective. Faith doesn’t always look like everything finished—it looks like trust in the One who’s still writing the story.
Fix Your Eyes on the Promiser
When the promise delays, when the process hurts, when the progress feels slow—look up.
Joshua 21 isn’t just a record of victory; it’s a declaration of who God is: faithful. He’s the Promiser who cannot lie, who doesn’t forget, who doesn’t fail. He gave the land. He gave the victory. And He still gives today.
If you’re feeling discouraged, remember: your breakthrough may not be in the next moment, but it could be in your next step.
Keep going. Keep believing. Keep reminding God of His Word—not because He forgets, but because you need to remember.
As Hebrews 6:12 says, “Imitate those who through faith and perseverance inherit the promises.”
Let that be your path. Don’t give up. Don’t settle. Don’t forget who made the promise in the first place.
What promise from God are you currently holding onto that feels delayed? How do you typically respond when the waiting gets long or difficult?
Read Joshua 21:45. What does this verse reveal about God’s character? How can it shape your perspective in seasons of waiting?
Have you ever been tempted to “opt out” of the process because it felt too hard? What does it look like to actively participate in God’s promises without striving in your own strength?
How do you remind yourself of God’s promises in a practical way? Are there Scriptures, habits, or people that help you stay grounded in faith?
What’s one step of obedience or perseverance God might be calling you to take this week? How can the group support and pray with you as you take that step?