The Mirror of the Word by C.E. White can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Word-Devotions-Reveal-Refine/dp/B0DFZS83C7  To learn more about this author and other words, visit https://cewhitebooks.com/

“I will not drive them out from you in a single year, so that the land will not become desolate and the animals of the field become too numerous for you. I will drive them out from you little by little, until you become fruitful and take possession of the land.”

—Exodus 23:29–30

Sometimes it looks like God isn’t keeping his end of the bargain, but he sees things we don’t see and considers things we can’t consider.

If he had driven the Israelites’ enemies from the land too quickly, the cultivated areas would’ve become wild, and the herds would have become so large as to be unmanageable. The Israelites would’ve been left with an overwhelming workload.

But in his wisdom, the Lord did it little by little, so that not only did the Israelites take over the land, they benefited from the labor of their enemies.

If it looks like the Lord hasn’t finished his work in our lives, it could be that he is not slow, but patient, giving all people the time to come to him in repentance (2 Peter 3:9) or maybe because it will be better for us in the end—or perhaps, both. Perhaps he is ordering things and preparing us for the responsibility so we’re not overwhelmed by it when it comes.

God sees the end from the beginning and his plan will be established (Isaiah 46:10).

Our position is always to trust that he has a reason, continue following him, and faithfully bear the fruit of the Spirit while we wait so that when the time comes, we’re able to take possession of what he’s given us.

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