YES, BUT NOT RIGHT NOW

In Genesis 25: 21, Isaac pleaded with God for a child. It is not explicitly spelt out how long Rebekah was barren, but v. 19 shows us Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah, and v. 26 states he was 60 when the twins were born. So, it’s safe to infer Rebekah was barren for about 20 whole years.

First of all, why would God withhold children – children that He freely gives to those who want and don’t want, children that directly fulfill His mandate to man in creation to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth – from Isaac? And not just anyone, (even though that commandment was to all of mankind and not just a special group) but from Isaac no less? The long awaited promised heir, the offspring from whom the Jewish race began? Abraham’s seed, God’s own friend? Why would God do that to him? To you? To me?

New Living Translation lets us understand that God may decide to withhold a blessing for a while for 3 reasons:

1. To deepen our insight into what we really need:

So, you want a car. God wants us to have the desires of our hearts right? Nothing wrong with your request, then. You keep asking, no car just yet. But you don’t have a steady job now. How do you plan to maintain the car? Buy fuel, pay for regular servicing, repair it when you have accidents? Your friend whose Mercedes you have been coveting is steady complaining to you about how much money he spends just to replace the fan belt, and he’s currently earning five times your current salary.

All of a sudden, you realize you don’t need a car right now. If you’re being honest with yourself, a car may very well be more of a liability than an asset. It’ll come later for sure, but for right now, other things need to fall in place before that car can be a blessing to you.

Now, aren’t you glad God said “yes, but not right now”?

2. To broaden our appreciation for His answers:

You want a job, but not just job. You want to work in a big government office – CBN, maybe, and be paid at least N400,000 monthly. You want quarterly benefits too, and maybe an official car strapped with a driver for good measure and convenience.

You got a first class, this is not a case of unmerited favour, you deserve this! You’ve worked hard and slaved for a job like this. God knows that too! So why the delay?

You are leaning on your own understanding, believing in your own accomplishments and relaxing on it like the strongest, most reliable, fail-proof answer to all you want. Patting your own back. You don’t feel you need too much prayers for the job, not after your CV speaks volumes already?

Pro tip: Trust in the Lord first and only.

Most likely you get that job when you want, and then you believe it was solely because of your accomplishments with minimal input from God. You see the blessing as a right, your entitlement, after all You don’t appreciate the blessing given to you.

So, for His name’s sake, to ensure HE alone is glorified because He is a jealous God, He temporarily shuts the doors. First class what? No job opening here please. Maybe drop your CV and we’ll see what we can do, but no promises. Connections fail you, nepotism at an all time low. Especially in this Nigeria?

Now you have no one to run to but God. Now, fasting and prayer seems like a good idea. Now, you realize your degree is just a colourful paper, only He qualifies.

And boom! The job comes through. Suddenly, you understand the delay. The delay was to work on your dependence on Him, on your humility, on your gratitude.

Do you see now why He said, “Yes, but not right now”?

3. To allow us to mature so we can use His gifts more wisely:

I want a Range Rover Sport and a wife/husband to match, with a huge conspicuous ring that’ll reflect the farthest rays of light and serve as a small torch, illuminating the path for these people. Yes, I want to stunt on all those people who looked down on me.

You’re asking for the right things with the wrong motives. You plan to use God’s positive answers to bring about negativity in His other children, inspire covetousness and jealousy, and an overall sense of inadequacy in others. You have no plan to use that car to pick up people who are stranded, or at the very least drive to places that’ll give God glory. And you’re wondering why you’re still driving the Toyota with the scratched and weekly mechanic visits at the workshop?

Straighten out your motives – and don’t pretend, He already sees your thoughts anyway, and ask again. And see if He won’t grant your request.

God wants us to have the desires of our hearts. But like any other great father, He will not give it to you until you prove you can be responsible with it, grateful for it and recognize it is a gift from Him, not yourself.

Now you’ve hacked it, fix your heart and grow spiritually, and whatever you can even think of having will be yours in due time.

Song: Yahweh by Steve Crown