Delays are natural events in life! We can’t live without having varying lengths of delays in daily activities or long termed projected activities. A delay is a time or period of unwanted or unintended waiting.
The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as; “To make something happen at a later time than originally planned or expected.”
In effect, we already have a set plan or expectation of an activity or an event. We may have done everything humanly possible to achieve a set goal, but we get some disappointment because the expected result is delayed.
Delays may be experienced in simple matters like waiting for the arrival of a person, a bus (or train), waiting for academic results, waiting to get a job, waiting to get married, or even waiting for a child. You have planned, you have applied yourself, you have toiled, you have expected, but the answer tarries.
The reason for delays can be from the minutest things or excuses ( a stain on a shirt) to the most complex (reasons that are interwoven with other reasons). They can be physical, attitudinal, social, or even spiritual. Regardless of what the cause is, you are left to deal with the delay and probably to deal with the period of waiting for the anticipated outcome. So what do you do?
What we do while we wait is very important. It is import because it is a moment of decision, a moment to build momentum, a moment to tame self rather than calm a city. (Proverbs 16:32) It is a moment to explore your options and choose to be most useful to yourself. What we do while we wait may yield a more fruitful outcome than what we had anticipated. Delays would always happen so we must develop the right attitude and habits to handle any kind of delay.
32 Better a patient person than a warrior,
one with self-control than one who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32
The Bible is awashed with countless stories of individuals or nations experiencing delays. Remember that the Israelites were delayed in the desert for 40 years. Did they make the best use of their time? You recall that Joseph, the son of Jacob, had a dream (Genesis 37:5) that he would be a Leader. It was no ordinary dream. It was a revelation and Joseph expected great things to happen to him but he found himself sold into slavery and then in prison. His delay was from 17 years till he was about 30 years old.
Well, we all know that the disciples of Jesus were advised to wait for the Holy Spirit… (Luke 24:49 & Acts 1:4) they waited. This can be preceded by many other stories of Abraham and Sarah waiting for a child. (Abraham was actually promised this child, which makes it more difficult, believe it or not – it is harder to wait when expectations are heightened). Do you remember Hannah, Samuel’s mother? The list of the stories of delays in the bible should make our faith grow stronger. If you doubt, read the book of Job.
What I have attempted to point out is that delay seems to be an ingredient of our faith process. During the period of delay the characters mentioned above built their faith, and they improved their knowledge and devotion to God. The delay helped them to build and improve their character and spirituality.
We must also note that the gifts of the Holy Spirit address this interesting component of delays in our lives. Part of the gifts includes patience, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23) Hence the word of God already entreats us to build the character and personality to help handle daily, periodic and unimaginable durations of delays in our lives. Delays should heal us.
Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Once we have been able to build the character of patience, self-control, gentleness, faithfulness, etc… we would resonate with a new personality that turns problems into promotions, disadvantages into advantages, and delays into destiny moments. The goal is to turn the perceived delay into a gestation period. You must ensure that the wait is not in vain.
The gestation period is the duration of time when a mammal nurtures a young one in the womb with the expectation of bringing forth another of its kind. It is a period from conception to birth. In business, the gestation period is the time it takes to help the business idea run its course and mature to reap profits. So how does this concern delays?
The simple explanation is that every period of delay is an opportunity to develop, improve or showcase a better self. It gives you time to retreat, prepare, meditate, and launch an improved version of yourself.
‘Delay’ is a time to awaken your consciousness, spirituality, and personality. It’s a term for improvement or rebirth. The period should help you incubate (or manage the incubation of) ideas and ideals for personal and spiritual development. No matter the brevity of the time of delay, it must be put to maximum use. Regret should never be an option! Turn your delays into gestation period; know God more, improve yourself and launch for a better future!