Scripture Reading:

Hebrews 6:13–15 (NIV) “When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself… And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.”

Devotional Thought:

Delay has a way of testing our emotions. When God speaks, we feel faith rise quickly. But when time passes and nothing seems to move, confusion can set in. We begin to wonder if we heard wrong. We question the timing. Sometimes we even question ourselves.

Scripture shows us that delay does not cancel the promise — it tests the covenant.

Abraham believed God, yet when the waiting stretched on, anxiety crept in. In Genesis 16, impatience led to a human solution. What looked reasonable was not covenant-aligned. Waiting felt risky, so control felt responsible. But not every open door is a God door.

Delay stretches faith into maturity. It prepares character for calling. If God released certain promises too early, they would crush us instead of crown us. Waiting is not punishment; it is preparation.

Before God reminded Abraham of what He would give him, He reminded him of who He would be: “I am your shield.” In seasons of delay, God doesn’t just promise outcomes — He promises coverage. He guards what He has spoken. He protects what He has planted.

Delay is not God stepping back. It is God standing guard.

Reflection Questions:

1. Am I tempted to take control in an area where God has asked me to trust?
2. What might God be forming in me during this waiting season?
3. Do I see God only as the source of the promise, or also as my shield in the process?

Prayer:

Faithful God, when waiting feels heavy, help me choose trust over control. Guard my heart from fear and impatience. Strengthen my faith so that delay refines me instead of discourages me. Remind me that You are my shield, and Your covenant still stands. Amen.

Action Step:

Identify one promise you are waiting on. Instead of trying to “fix” the timeline, intentionally surrender it to God in prayer this week. Replace anxious thoughts with the declaration: “God is my shield.”

Family Declaration:

As a family, we declare: Delay does not cancel God’s promise. We will not trade covenant for control. God is our shield in every season. We trust Him in the waiting. The promise still stands.