The day of God’s proclamation is a glorious one indeed. Whether it is spoken over our lives, our ministries, our churches or anything else of importance to us, proclamation brings the revelation of God’s purpose. Consider Abram. In Genesis 12 God proclaimed over him not just prosperity, but that he would be a great nation. The proclamation was so great that God had to rename him. He had been Abram (Exalted father) but with the proclamation came a new identity. Abram became Abraham (Father of a multitude).

Yet God’s proclamation did not immediately become a physical manifestation. Abram understood that for him to be a “great nation” he must first have an heir. Yet he had no children and he was already 75 years old. Surely God would have to move quickly, right? Yet Abram’s wife, Sarai, didn’t become pregnant the following day. She didn’t become pregnant within that year or even within that decade. The day of proclamation was significant, even transformative, yet its manifestation would not come to pass overnight.

What lies between the proclamation and the manifestation? It is the in between. It was in the in between that God made a covenant with Abram. It was in the in between that He specifically promised him a son. It was in the in between that Abram and Sarai hatched their own plan to bring about the manifestation and therefore departed from the perfect will of God.

The in between can be a dry and desolate place. Consider Israel. In the same passage cited above, God drew out the boundaries of the Promised Land. Yet it was nearly 400 years before Moses was even born and another 70 years before God spoke a specific proclamation over his life at the burning bush (Exodus 3). Again it was another 40 years that separated the day where Moses stretched out his hand for God to part the Red Sea from the day where the Hebrews first crossed the Jordan.

The list of examples goes on and while we see the proclamation and the manifestation come to pass within a few short chapters of scripture, the recipients of these proclamations waited a lifetime or even generations to witness the fulfillment of the promise. In between there were times that seemed meaningless. In between there were times that seemed hopeless. In between there are even times where the proclamation is forgotten altogether. Although we may forget, He does not.

Why then is there an in between? Why not simply fulfill the promise right after it is spoken? With so much evidence of people going astray between the two bookends that form the announcement and the fulfillment of the promise it may seem more beneficial to cut out all the messiness that can occur in the waiting. Yet it remains. Even now we find ourselves living in the in between. It was nearly 2,000 years ago that Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives and the angels made a proclamation to His disciples that we left staring into the sky. “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11) Surely this proclamation spoken by God’s divine messengers will come to pass. Yet how many have fallen asleep? How many have forgotten the promise? Have you?

The fact is that God uses the time which separates the proclamation from the manifestation for our purification. Before the birth of Isaac, God confirmed His covenant with Abram through circumcision (Genesis 17). It was Abram’s sign of faith and God’s sign of the promise to be fulfilled. Following the Hebrew’s departure from Egypt, God used the desert to cull the disobedient and the unbelievers from among them (Joshua 1). God used the time between David’s anointing to kingship in Israel and his ascension to the throne to teach David how to trust Him in greater measure. Finally, God is using the time between Jesus’ departure from the Mount of Olives and His return to purify His Bride and make us ready for His purpose.

This is much said to simply conclude with, “take heart!” Yet that is the word which must be spoken and the word which must be received in faith. Take heart! The proclamation of the LORD over your life, whether spoken as logos (written word) or rhema (spoken word) will come to pass. It is understandable that we can become tired in the waiting. We can even allow doubt to overshadow what was once surety in our hearts. While these things are understandable, they are not beneficial. While they can bend us, we cannot allow them to break us.

Do not grow weary in doing good. Do not forget to not only rejoice with your lips, but in your heart. Do not forget that the promises of God are “yes” and “AMEN.” The ten virgins that awaited the bridegroom all knew that he was coming but none of them knew when. The wise virgins knew that the night would be long and that there are many evil things within the shadows. They brought ample oil for their lamps. The foolish virgins could not imagine that the wait would be long and therefore were overwhelmed by the darkness.

Wait and do not lose hope. There is coming a day…

Mitch Salmon is a follower of Jesus Christ and proclaimer of the Good News – The Gospel of Christ Jesus!