The Long Route: Trusting God’s Timing
God knows exactly where we are and how to bring us to our expected end, even if He has to take us the long way. His promises are generational, and He is faithful to keep every word spoken. In Genesis 15:13-16, God made a promise to Abraham:
"Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions..."
This promise wasn’t fulfilled in Abraham’s lifetime—it was for his great-grandchildren, the fourth generation. God had already planned a deliverer, Moses, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt into a land flowing with milk and honey.
But there was something God didn’t tell them. He didn’t mention the giants in the promised land or that they would have to fight to possess what He had given them.
When the Promise Requires a Fight
How often do we give up on relationships, businesses, dreams, or other promises because we have to fight? The children of Israel faced the same temptation. After their miraculous escape through the Red Sea, God didn’t lead them on the shortest route to their destination. Instead, as Exodus 13:17-18 explains, He took them the long way:
"For God said, 'If they face war, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.' So God led the people around by the desert road toward the Red Sea."
God knew they weren’t ready for the battles ahead. The wilderness was His preparation ground to humble and test them, as Deuteronomy 8:2 states:
"Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands."
Waiting for the Promise
In 2000, God gave me a glimpse of my future, just as He allowed the children of Israel to spy out the promised land. It felt so real that I believed it would happen immediately. But just as Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac, I have waited nearly 25 years for the fulfillment of prophecies spoken over my life since I was 18.
At the end of 2024, I found myself saddened, wondering why I hadn’t yet received what I believed would come in 2023. Yet, God reminded me of a prophetic word from April 2021: "You will enter your great harvest in 2025."
This journey has been humbling. Through delays, I’ve learned that delay is not denial. The Bible says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick" (Proverbs 13:12), and there were times my heart felt heavy. But God is faithful. He has used this process to heal me, test me, and prepare me for the desires of my heart.
Refined Through the Fire
Recently, I received confirmation through a prophetic word from Prophet Tomi Arayomi and the RIG Nation prophetic team. They shared that I had passed through the fires, endured the tests, and come out as pure gold. This was not just for me—it was for others.
Every trial we endure is part of God’s eternal equation for our destiny. Just as He took the children of Israel the long route, He allowed me to experience a prolonged journey to strengthen my faith, deepen my roots, and prepare me for the fight ahead.
God’s Faithfulness Across Generations
God’s promises extend beyond us. What He spoke to Abraham wasn’t just for him—it was for his descendants. And just as He fulfilled His promise to Abraham, He will fulfill His promises to us, even if it takes longer than we expect.
Be encouraged if you find yourself on the long route. God is not done unfolding your story. The delays and tests are not wasted—they are part of His preparation. He is humbling you, strengthening you, and equipping you to possess the promises He has already given you.
Get ready to receive everything God has spoken over your life and your generations. His timing is perfect, and His faithfulness endures.