The Appointed Time

Habakkuk 2:1-3

[1] I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what He will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

[2] And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

[3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

What does it mean to put your hopes in a word from the Lord? Habakkuk chapter 2 verses 2 and 3 for me describe what it means. In simple terms: “Write the vision and make it plain. It will not tarry.” Now after we have received the word from God what do we do? We wait.

Even when it seems as though it’s not coming, what do we do?

We wait for the appointed time. Until the time comes we will not know.

There is no doubt that there is value in obeying a word from the Lord. The story of the destruction of Jericho comes to mind (Joshua 6). The importance of obedience in accordance with the word of the Lord is clear in this story. The Lord gave specific instructions and they followed them to the letter and the outcome promised, came immediately.

Where is desperation built from? A promise deferred makes the heart grow weary (Proverbs 13:12).

Now I ask again, what do you do when the word does not happen immediately? When you do not see instant results? I speak from experience when I say it is absolutely nerve racking if you are any bit of a person who always wants to know what happens next. Wait? Wait?? The impatient side does not want to wait. The impatient side wants the appointed time to be NOW because how much longer? What do we do in the moments when we cannot seem to see any hope or inkling of the promise? We can turn to the one who sent the word. There are times in the bible where certain people just could not wait any longer like Hannah’s desperate prayer in 1 Samuel 1. Although there is no record of Hannah receiving a word directly from the Lord prior to this prayer that she would have children, she certainly was going to God because His written word makes mention of the fruitfulness that can be birthed from marriage (Genesis 1:28). Her desperation was so clear that even Eli saw her and thought she was drunk. Where is desperation built from? A promise deferred makes the heart grow weary (Proverbs 13:12). We can all attest that indeed it does and the bible acknowledges that.

So one last time I ask, brother and sisters, what do you do when the appointed time has not arrived? Keep going to Him who sent you the word because He understands your plight. Keep writing the vision and making it plain. The appointed time is yet to come.