The Lord is not Slow…

2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Amplified Bible
The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

New Living Translation
The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.

The whole verse is important in explaining why Jesus hasn’t returned on earth to take us to heaven. Jesus promised to return but He hasn’t. Life is getting difficult by the day and we desire to see Jesus return, but He hasn’t returned. This Bible verse is the clearest explanation as to why there seems to be a delay.

This Bible text tells us that God is actually waiting for us to repent. The world would have ended long ago but you and I are not ready. God out of mercy has not ended the world. If God ended the world suddenly, you and I would miss eternal life because in His assessment we are not ready. The delay is because God is waiting for you and me to repent.

Confession is acknowledging that we are wrong and in need of God. Repentance is action-based. Repentance is making a U-turn back to the Lord. Repentance is taking practice steps to ensure that we do not go back to sin again. Repentance is when the prodigal son rose and returned home. Repentance carries the action element with. When confession goes into action it is repentance. Many people make many confessions but very few go ahead and repent. God is waiting for repentance.

God is waiting for Holy Spirit-inspired action. God is waiting for us to demonstrate in very clear terms that we belong to God. God is waiting for us to turn our back on the world and its sinful pleasures. God has many times heard our profuse confessions, but now He expects and wants us to repent.

Jesus has not returned because He is waiting for us to repent. What seems to be God delaying to give us an endless life of bliss, is actually a favor so that we do not end up in eternal condemnation. God has observed us and in grace has delayed the end of the world so that we do not miss out. God will not wait forever, one day, God will stop waiting and make the statement in Revelation 22:11.

Revelation 22:11
Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”

The key point that I wish we take home today is that God is not slow. To be slow means to take longer than expected because you can’t do any better. To be slow suggests mental incompetence. To be slow means you are unable to deliver what you promised. The Bible tells us that, the Lord is not slow!

Whenever we are clear on the fact that God is not slow, we realize that what seems like a delay is a better plan in our favor. God was not slow in responding to Joseph’s prayers, tears and pleas to be delivered from Ishmaelites who bought him and later sold him to Egyptians. God was able to intervene and save him and ensure he returns home to his father. God delayed responding because Joseph was bound for greatness. When you meet Joseph ruling Egypt and welcoming his family to Egypt, you discover that the Lord is not slow!

If God had answered Joseph’s prayer immediately and set him free and back home, Joseph would never be great. If we know the great things God has for us, we would be comforted to know that He is not slow. God is patient so that greater and better things would come. The Lord is not slow!

We have a message for Job who after all suffering received everything doubles. As he prays and cries for God’s intervention, we have to encourage Job by saying, that the Lord is not slow. As Job cries for a quick recovery, we encourage him by saying to him, the Lord is not slow. Whatever goes through your life, just remember, the Lord is not slow!

Are you single and lonely? As you get tired of praying, hang in there, the Lord is not slow. Are you hard working and nothing happening? As you pray and work and wonder what next, just remember, the Lord is not slow. Have you prayed for deliverance from places, people, situations, and even illnesses? Are you almost giving up because God is taking too long and you even wonder if He really exists and answers prayer? Take note today, the Lord is not slow!

Dear God as I almost lose my cool and patience, remind me that you are not slow. As I struggle with varied experiences where I wish you came running but you prefer to come at your own time, remind me that you are not slow. The Lord is not slow, may this be my testimony today and very soon, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

1. Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on notification and share) –http://youtube.com/reikesis
2. Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center) –https://www.amazon.com/s?k=rei+kesis&ref=nb_sb_noss
3. Rei Kesis daily blog –https://reikesis.com/