HABAKKUK 2:2-3: “And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3 ESV)
OBSERVATION: Have you ever had a dream that was delayed? There is a distinct difference between a dream we create on our own, and a dream that is given to us by the Spirit of the living God. The first flows from our own imagination and desire, the latter from the heart and purposes of God for our lives. Yet, they both have something in common. They both have periods when they look like they will not ever come to pass.
I have had dreams of my own making that have not come to pass. I can remember as a small boy, growing up with a swimming pool in my backyard, I use to dream of being an Olympic swimmer. I would swim laps, practice my turns, and pop up at the end of the race imagining winning the Gold Medal. Well, this was a dream of my own imagination and desire. I can safely say that at my age now – this is a dream that will not come to pass.
And then there are the dreams, the visions that the Lord has placed in my heart. These are not of my own making. They are the seeds of His will that He has planted within my spirit. Some of them I have seen come to pass, and others seem distant and almost impossible. Yet, those that are truly from the Lord will come to pass – in His appointed time. The word of the Lord to Habakkuk is as true to us as it was to him. “For still the vision awaits its appointed time, it hastens to the end-it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it, it will surely come; it will not delay.”
About 10 years ago I was at one of our Church’s conferences. There was and early morning prayer time before the conference began. It was a time of worship based prayer. As I walked around the meeting room, worshipping and praying, I felt the Lord speak something very clearly and distinctly to my heart. I dismissed it, because it seemed impossible. And when I began to pray again, the same words came to my heart – and they were crystal clear. During that entire hour it was as if a record was playing over and over again in my heart. I knew the Holy Spirit was speaking to me.
Since that time nothing has seemed to happen that would indicate that what was spoken to my heart would ever come to pass. In fact, it seemed impossible. Whenever I tried to dismiss it, I could not. I simply gave it back to the Lord and said – “If this is truly from You, then in Your appointed time it will happen.” At the time of this writing I have begun to see what may be the possible seeds of the Lord bringing this to pass. It has been through events and circumstances that I could never have orchestrated or imagined. In fact, it is at such an early stage that I am hesitant to even declare what was spoken to me that morning in the prayer room.
So how do we wait upon the vision until it comes to pass? The Lord gives both Habakkuk and us the answer.
- “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4 ESV)
It is not through making presumptuous claims of the great things we are going to do. It is not in proclaiming these things to others before the appointed time. Remember, Joseph did this with his brothers and father, and that did not help his vision come to pass. Rather, we walk and live by faith. We need to be like Mary who heard the Word of the Lord and kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. She did not have to make any claims to others. She simply walked in obedience and faith until she entered into the promise.
This is what I am doing now, and will continue to do until God’s appointed time. When I am able to share fully what the Lord spoke to my heart, some will wonder – “What was all the mystery and the big fuss about?” To some, it will seem a lot about nothing. However, to me, it will be the fulfillment of the vision and the confirmation of God’s calling for my life. It is not how “big” the vision is – but that it is from the Lord. If God has given you a vision for your life, no matter how big or how small – hold on in faith! The vision has an appointed time! It will surely come! It will not delay!
Lord, thank you for the wonder and privilege of receiving Your vision for my life. Thank You for doing the impossible and always bringing forth exceedingly, abundantly, above all that I could ever ask or think. Thank You for graciously allowing “my” visions and dreams to die – so that I could enter into “Your” visions and dreams for my life! Your vision and dreams for my life have both blessings in this life – and eternal rewards!
In Jesus Name!
