Everyone on a journey with God realizes there’s a gap between his promises and his fulfillments. That’s why it’s a journey. But as we watch for his plan to unfold in our lives, we need to remember one of his key lessons of faith:
Joy comes before breakthrough.
That’s why many of us spend years waiting for promises to be fulfilled or prayers to be answered. We have anxious faith in our hearts. Will God work things out? Is he on my side? Can I really trust him to do what he said? On good days, the answer is a resounding “yes.” On bad days . . . well, we wonder. And worry. And say we believe without actually believing.
Joyful, expectant faith—especially when it endures through obstacles and contradictions—creates a pathway between God’s promise and his fulfillment. It can take time, and we will have to fight distractions. But we really can cultivate that kind of joy and expectancy. And not only does that open doors of fulfillment; it makes the journey all the more enjoyable.
