From Promise to Fulfillment: Trusting God's Timing

Devotional

Day 1: God Always Fulfills His Promises

God’s faithfulness is unwavering, even when we struggle to see it. Sometimes we find ourselves trusting in the dependability of things like Amazon deliveries more than we trust in God’s ability to fulfill His promises. Yet, Scripture reminds us that God is not like humans who change their minds or fail to follow through. Every word He speaks is true, and every promise He makes will come to pass, even if it doesn’t arrive on our preferred timeline. When doubts creep in, remember that God’s track record is perfect—He never fails to deliver on what He has spoken. [55:03]

Numbers 23:19 (ESV)
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Reflection: Is there a promise from God you’ve doubted because it hasn’t happened yet? What would it look like to trust Him today as fully as you trust your next package to arrive?

Day 2: Stewarding the Dream Through Disappointment

When God gives you a dream or a promise, it comes with the responsibility to steward it faithfully, even when your current circumstances seem to contradict what God has spoken. Joseph’s journey from favored son to slave and prisoner was filled with disappointment and hardship, yet he held onto the dream God gave him. Disappointment is not a sign that you’ve missed God’s will; rather, it is often a necessary part of your development and preparation for what’s ahead. God uses every season, even the painful ones, to shape you for the fulfillment of His promise. [01:06:43]

Genesis 37:2-10 (ESV)
These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Reflection: What is one disappointment you’re facing right now, and how might God be using it to prepare you for something greater?

Day 3: God Is With You and For You in Every Season

No matter where you find yourself—whether in a season of blessing or in the midst of hardship—God is with you and for you. Joseph’s story shows that even in slavery and prison, God’s presence never left him, and God continued to show him favor. The same is true for you: God’s nearness is not dependent on your circumstances. He is working in your life, blessing you, and preparing you for what’s next, even when you can’t see it. Let the assurance of His presence give you strength to endure and hope to keep moving forward. [01:12:13]

Genesis 39:1-6, 19-21 (ESV)
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field. So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. ... As soon as his master heard the words that his wife spoke to him, “This is the way your servant treated me,” his anger was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined, and he was there in prison. But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to be reminded today that God is with you and for you, even if your circumstances are difficult?

Day 4: Deliverance Is the Doorway to Destiny

To step into the destiny God has for you, you must first experience His deliverance. Joseph could not fulfill his God-given destiny until he was delivered from prison; David needed deliverance from Saul to become king; and Jesus delivered us from sin so we could enter into eternal life. Sometimes, the breakthrough you need may look like a breakdown, but God is at work, bringing you out of what holds you back so you can step into what He has promised. Trust that your deliverance is on its way, and hold tight to the dream God has given you. [01:20:17]

Genesis 41:39-46 (ESV)
Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.

Reflection: What is one area where you need God’s deliverance today, and how can you invite Him to bring breakthrough in that place?

Day 5: Don’t Give Up—In Due Season, You Will Reap

God’s promises often take time to be fulfilled, and the waiting can be hard. But Scripture encourages us not to grow weary or give up, because at the right time, we will see the harvest if we remain faithful. Like Joseph, who waited 21 years to see his dream fulfilled, you are called to steward what God has given you, resist discouragement, and keep doing good. Your season of reaping is coming—hold on to hope and keep trusting in God’s perfect timing. [01:22:29]

Galatians 6:9-10 (ESV)
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Reflection: Where are you tempted to give up right now? What is one practical way you can keep doing good and holding onto hope this week?

Sermon Summary

This morning, we explored the journey from promise to fulfillment, using the story of Joseph as a powerful example of how God’s promises unfold in our lives. Just as we eagerly anticipate a package from Amazon, we often find ourselves waiting for God to deliver on His promises. Yet, unlike Amazon’s predictable delivery schedules, God’s timing and methods are often mysterious and require us to trust Him deeply, even when circumstances seem to contradict what He has spoken.

Joseph’s life illustrates that receiving a promise from God is just the beginning. At seventeen, Joseph was given dreams of greatness, but the path to their fulfillment was marked by betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment. Each setback was not a detour from God’s plan, but a necessary part of the process. God used every season—no matter how painful—to prepare Joseph for the destiny He had in store. Even in the darkest moments, God’s presence and favor remained with Joseph, shaping his character and equipping him for leadership.

We also considered how disappointment and delay are not signs of God’s absence or our failure, but are often stepping stones in our spiritual development. The enemy seeks to use these moments to distract or discourage us, but God redeems every hardship for His greater purpose. The stories of David and Jesus further reinforce this pattern: before stepping into their destinies, both endured seasons of trial and preparation.

Ultimately, deliverance is required to step into the destiny God has promised. Joseph needed deliverance from prison to reach the palace; David needed deliverance from Saul to become king; and Jesus delivered us from sin so we could enter into eternal relationship with God. In the same way, whatever struggle or bondage we face, God is able and willing to deliver us, preparing us for the fulfillment of His promises.

We are called to steward the dreams and promises God gives us, holding fast even when the process is long and the way is unclear. God is faithful—He does not promise and then fail to deliver. Our role is to remain faithful, trust His timing, and allow Him to prepare us for what He has in store.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Promises Require Stewardship and Patience When God gives a promise or a dream, it comes with the responsibility to steward it faithfully, even when circumstances seem to contradict it. Like Joseph, we must hold on to what God has spoken, trusting that the process—no matter how long or difficult—is part of our preparation. Faithfulness in the waiting is as important as faith in the promise itself. [58:40]
2. Disappointment Is a Stepping Stone, Not a Stumbling Block Disappointment and delay are not evidence that we are outside of God’s will. Instead, they are integral to our development and preparation for what God has promised. Rather than avoiding or resenting disappointment, we are invited to see it as a necessary part of the journey that shapes us for our destiny. [66:43]
3. God’s Presence and Favor Remain in Every Season No matter how dark or confusing our circumstances, God is with us. The story of Joseph repeatedly emphasizes that “the Lord was with him” in both slavery and prison. God’s presence is not limited to seasons of blessing; He is actively working for our good even in the midst of suffering and injustice. [71:21]
4. Deliverance Precedes Destiny To step into the fulfillment of God’s promises, we often need deliverance—from bondage, addiction, fear, or any obstacle that stands in the way. Just as Joseph, David, and even Jesus experienced deliverance before stepping into their destinies, so too must we trust God to bring us through whatever holds us back. Our breakthrough may look like a breakdown, but it is God’s way of moving us into our promised future. [79:26]
5. God’s Timing Is Perfect, Even When It’s Unclear The fulfillment of God’s promises may take years, as it did for Joseph, but God is never late. The “secret things belong to the Lord,” and we may not always understand His methods or timing. Yet, we can be assured that He is faithful to complete what He has begun, and that our current season is not our final destination. [73:20]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Kids and Worship: Learning from the Next Generation
[03:30] - The Excitement and Disappointment of Waiting
[07:10] - Trusting God’s Promises vs. Trusting Amazon
[09:30] - God’s Promises: Numbers 23 and Luke 1
[11:00] - Why We Struggle with God’s Timing
[13:00] - Joseph’s Dreams and Family Dynamics
[16:40] - The Weight of a God-Given Dream
[18:40] - Joseph’s Betrayal and the Path of Suffering
[22:39] - God’s Favor in Unexpected Places
[26:00] - Disappointment as Part of God’s Process
[29:21] - Preparation Through Hardship: Joseph, David, and Jesus
[33:33] - God Redeems, Not Justifies, Our Suffering
[36:21] - Three Truths for the Journey: Preparation, Presence, Favor
[41:20] - Deliverance and Destiny: Joseph’s Promotion
[46:17] - Personal Deliverance: Breakthroughs and Breakdowns
[50:29] - Holding Fast to the Promise
[54:52] - Prayer for Deliverance and Salvation
[57:12] - Responding to God’s Call and Closing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Genesis 37:2-10 (ESV) — > These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was pasturing the flock with his brothers. He was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought a bad report of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peacefully to him. Now Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more. He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed: behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words. Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

Genesis 41:39-46 (ESV) — > Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command. Only as regards the throne will I be greater than you.” And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain about his neck. And he made him ride in his second chariot. And they called out before him, “Bow the knee!” Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphenath-paneah. And he gave him in marriage Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On. So Joseph went out over the land of Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt.

Numbers 23:19 (ESV) — > God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Observation Questions

What were the two dreams that Joseph received from God, and how did his family respond to them? (Genesis 37:2-10; [58:40])
After Joseph received his dreams, what unexpected hardships did he face before seeing any fulfillment? (Genesis 37:16-28, 39:1-21; [01:00:34])
According to Numbers 23:19, what does the Bible say about God’s character when it comes to keeping promises?
How long did it take for Joseph to see the fulfillment of the dreams God gave him, and what position did he eventually hold? (Genesis 41:39-46; [01:16:52])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God allowed Joseph to go through betrayal, slavery, and imprisonment before fulfilling His promise? What might God have been doing in Joseph during these times? ([01:06:43])
The sermon said, “Disappointment isn’t a stumbling block… but instead, it’s a stepping stone on the path that God has for us.” How does this perspective change the way someone might view their own disappointments? ([01:06:43])
The story of Joseph emphasizes that “the Lord was with him” in both slavery and prison. What does this teach about God’s presence in difficult seasons? ([01:11:21])
The sermon mentioned that deliverance is needed before stepping into destiny. What are some examples of “deliverance” that people might need today in order to step into what God has for them? ([01:19:26])

Application Questions

The sermon compared waiting for God’s promises to waiting for an Amazon package, but with less predictability. Is there a promise or dream you feel God has given you that you’re still waiting on? How do you handle the waiting? ([55:03])
Joseph had to steward his dream even when everything seemed to go wrong. What does it look like for you to “steward” a promise from God in your current season? ([58:40])
The enemy tries to use disappointment and delay to distract or discourage us. Can you think of a time when disappointment made you question God’s plan? How did you respond, and what would you do differently now? ([01:06:00])
The sermon said, “God’s presence and favor remain in every season.” When have you experienced God’s presence in a hard or confusing time? How did it help you keep going? ([01:11:21])
Deliverance was needed for Joseph, David, and even Jesus before stepping into their destinies. Is there something in your life right now that you need God to deliver you from so you can move forward? What steps can you take to seek God’s deliverance? ([01:19:26])
The sermon reminded us that “God’s timing is perfect, even when it’s unclear.” How do you react when God’s timing doesn’t match your expectations? What helps you trust Him in those moments? ([01:13:20])
Joseph’s story took 21 years from promise to fulfillment. How does knowing this affect your perspective on the length of your own waiting seasons? ([01:16:52])

Sermon Clips

``But I'll tell you, just because you encounter disappointment on the road that you believe God had in store for you does not mean you're outside of divine alignment. Just because you encounter disappointment in your travels does not mean you're outside of divine alignment. [01:06:50] (16 seconds) #DisappointmentNotMisalignment

But I'll tell you, just because you endure something doesn't always mean it's something that God necessarily wants you to endure. Sometimes things just happen in life. Life isn't fair. We live in a broken world. And I'll tell you, God isn't going to try to justify the means and say, you know what, when it was something really bad, I allowed you to go through this because it would turn out okay in the end. No, the truth is God doesn't try to justify what happens. God redeems what happens. God redeems what happens for his greater purpose and for his greater plan. [01:09:43] (31 seconds) #GodRedeemsNotJustifies

And I like to think that every time we enter into a new tragedy in our lives, the chapter in your story starts off the same way. That whether you're going through grief, whether you're going through sickness, or just something really hard, the chapter of your story starts off with, but the Lord is with you. But the Lord is with you. He's not abandoned you. He's not forgotten you. The Lord is with you through whatever you are enduring through. [01:11:21] (26 seconds) #ButTheLordIsWithYou

It took 21 years for Joseph to be able to finally achieve the promise that God had for him that he received when he was 17. But the thing is, is Joseph stewarded the dream that God gave to him. He held tight to it and he wasn't going to let anybody take it away from him. [01:18:00] (17 seconds) #StewardshipThroughTime

And sometimes when we encounter breakthrough, it looks a little bit like a breakdown. Like I said, God has to deliver us into our destiny that he has for us to achieve. So hold tight to the promise that God has for you. Don't give up. Don't give up too soon. Steward the dream that God has given to you. Steward the dream that God gave you a long time ago that maybe you haven't quite seen him fulfilled yet. Don't allow distraction to pull you away. Don't allow your disappointment to turn you the other direction. And wait, but wait for what God has for you. And you'll receive what the Lord has for you. [01:21:52] (40 seconds) #BreakthroughThroughBreakdown

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