Hold On to Your Promise: The Long Story

Devotional

Day 1: Release Burdens, Receive God's Presence

The beginning of a new season can often bring unexpected twists and turns, leaving hearts feeling chaotic and weighed down. It is truly challenging to enter into moments of worship and reflection when the mind is preoccupied with external stresses. Yet, there is an invitation to set aside these burdens at the threshold of God's presence. Imagine leaving your worries at the altar, knowing they will still be there if you need to retrieve them, but perhaps you won't. This act of release creates space to fully receive the divine word and what God desires to do in your life. It allows for a deeper connection and openness to His transformative power. [26:46]

Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Reflection: What specific worry or distraction has been weighing on your mind this week, and what would it look like to intentionally lay it before God, even if just for a moment, to create space for His peace?

Day 2: Breakthrough Follows Intense Opposition

Sometimes, the start of a new year or a new season can feel incredibly challenging, as if one is constantly under attack. When life seems to go off the rails, and obstacles multiply, it can be disheartening. However, these intense periods of opposition often signal something profound. It is believed that when the enemy works hardest to distract and deter, it is precisely because God is preparing a game-changing move in your life. This resistance is not a sign of abandonment, but rather an indication that you are on the verge of a significant breakthrough. Hold firm, for something amazing is about to happen. [37:31]

James 4:7 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Reflection: Reflecting on recent challenges, where have you felt the most intense spiritual pressure, and how might this be an invitation to anticipate God's breakthrough in that very area?

Day 3: Embrace the Process, Trust the Story

We often cherish the stories of God's faithfulness, especially the highlights—the quick prayers answered, the immediate miracles. Yet, the journey of faith frequently involves "long stories," filled with waiting, confusion, setbacks, and moments where God's movement feels imperceptible. It is in these middle chapters, between a divine promise and its visible fulfillment, that our trust is truly tested. The process may be slow and challenging, but it is an integral part of God's grand narrative for your life. Every twist and turn, though not always understood in the moment, is woven into His ultimate good purpose. [42:09]

Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Reflection: Consider a "middle chapter" in your life where you're currently experiencing waiting or confusion. What specific aspect of God's character can you cling to as you navigate this part of your story?

Day 4: Purpose in Every Pause

When God's promises seem delayed, it is natural to feel frustrated or wonder why things are taking so long. However, these pauses are not periods of punishment or neglect; they are moments of profound preparation. God is not rushing to fulfill a promise; He is committed to preparing you for it. If every prayer were answered instantly, you might be blessed but not built, elevated but not equipped, promoted but not mature enough to steward what He gives. The delay is a divine development, shaping your character, sharpening your spirit, and cultivating the humility needed to truly receive and honor His gifts. [54:39]

Isaiah 40:31 (ESV)
but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Reflection: In what area of your life are you currently experiencing a significant "pause," and how might God be using this season to develop a specific character trait or skill within you for what is to come?

Day 5: Hold Firm to the First Piece

It can be incredibly frustrating when you have received an initial promise or a clear direction from God, but the subsequent steps remain elusive. The temptation to give up, to push it all away, or to wander back to a previous chapter can be strong. However, that first piece of the promise is not an isolated gift; it is evidence that the rest is on the way. Even when your rational understanding struggles to see the next step, holding onto that initial assurance is an act of faith. Trust that God connects the dots backward, and eventually, the entire picture will come together beautifully, revealing His faithfulness through it all. [01:17:25]

Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Reflection: What is the "first piece" of a promise or a word from God that you are currently holding onto, and what practical step can you take this week to strengthen your resolve to not walk away before its full completion?

Sermon Summary

Worshipers are invited to lay burdens down at the altar and receive focused time in God's presence, creating a space to surrender distraction so the heart can be prepared for teaching. The speaker confesses recent personal trials and threats, framing those pressures as the enemy's attempt to distract from a coming breakthrough—an encouragement that intense opposition often signals that something significant is about to happen. Anchoring the talk in Romans 8:28, the point is made that God works all things toward good according to His purpose, but that “good” often appears only when the whole story is seen, not in the messy middle.

A clear distinction is drawn between promise and process: promises arrive quickly in proclamation, but the process refines character, humility, and stewardship long before the full blessing manifests. Biblical examples—Abraham’s 25‑year wait, Joseph’s 22 years of imprisonment, Israel’s centuries of waiting—illustrate that delay and difficulty are not evidence of divine absence but of preparation. The congregation is warned against “microwaving” miracles—trying to force outcomes prematurely—which yields inferior results and can create chaos. Instead, the pause should be read as purposeful development; God is preparing people to steward what He will give.

Practical metaphors anchor the theology: the gym builds strength through tearing and rebuilding muscle; a teenage driver isn’t given a high‑end car until maturity is proven; a Lego piece kept by the bedside becomes a tangible reminder to hold the initial promise while waiting for subsequent pieces. The middle of the story is framed as the truest test of faith—when prayers seem unanswered, doors remain closed, and God feels silent—yet staying in the story allows one to experience the fullness of God’s plan. The closing invitation asks those who are weary, waiting, or tempted to abandon hope to come forward, claim a single symbolic Lego piece as evidence that the promise is real, and to trust that God is working the interim chapters together for eventual good and faithful fulfillment.

Key Takeaways

1. Process shapes the promised outcome Growth precedes glory: God delays not to deny but to develop. The hard seasons refine decisions, reveal blind spots, and cultivate the maturity required to steward the very blessing being promised. Recognizing delay as formation reframes waiting from punishment into preparation. [54:12]
2. Don't microwave God's timing Forcing a result shortcuts the refining work and often produces a pale imitation of what God intended. Manufactured solutions may look like progress but lack the depth, sustainability, and wisdom that come from a full, God‑ordered process. Patience preserves integrity; haste invites regret. [48:26]
3. The middle reveals true faith The central chapters of life expose whether belief rests on feeling or on fidelity. When outcomes are suspended and God seems quiet, remaining faithful becomes the evidence of genuine trust—faith that expects purpose beyond present pain. Endurance in the middle aligns the heart with God’s narrative, not transient comfort. [57:08]
4. Hold the first piece Keep the initial evidence of God's promise before you as both reminder and anchor. That single “piece” sustains hope through ambiguity and calls the heart back to peace when doubt tempts abandonment. Clinging to it invites subsequent pieces to arrive in God’s time, allowing the whole design to be revealed. [76:48]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:26] - Worship & Caregivers Invitation
[26:01] - Set Aside Distraction
[28:07] - Prayer to Prepare Hearts
[35:11] - Introduction to the Theme
[35:39] - Personal Trials and Opposition
[39:56] - Chapter Three: "It's a Long Story"
[41:08] - Reading Romans 8:28
[42:34] - Promise Versus Process
[48:26] - Don't Microwave the Miracle
[54:12] - Purpose in the Pause
[57:08] - The Middle Tests Faith
[74:53] - Lego Illustration: Missing Pieces
[76:48] - Altar Invitation: Take a Piece
[78:13] - Closing Prayer and Charge

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

Romans 8:28
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."

James 1:2-4
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

Observation questions

According to Romans 8:28, what is the specific condition for "all things" working together for good?
In the lives of biblical figures like Abraham, Joseph, and David, what were some of the specific "middle chapters" or setbacks they faced before seeing their promises fulfilled? [43:06]
What was the significance of the four hundred "years of silence" between the Old and New Testaments? [44:22]
Using the metaphor of the gym, what must happen to a muscle before it actually grows stronger? [01:03:04]

Interpretation questions

Romans 8:28 promises that God works things for "good," but this good is defined "according to His purpose." How might God's definition of "good" differ from a person's immediate desire for comfort or relief? [50:49]
There is a distinct difference between a "promise" and a "process." Why does God often allow a significant time gap between the two rather than fulfilling a request instantly? [54:12]
Attempting to "microwave" a miracle or manufacture a result often leads to chaos, much like Abraham’s decision regarding Ishmael. What are the spiritual risks of trying to force a breakthrough before God’s timing? [48:26]
Faith is often described as trusting when the story doesn't make sense yet. How does the "middle" of a story reveal what a person truly believes about God's character? [58:53]

Application questions

Many of us are currently in a "long story" where the middle chapters don't seem to make sense. What specific area of your life feels like it’s currently "on pause," and how are you tempted to handle that silence? [41:08]
It is easy to focus on the "highlights" of a testimony, but the middle is where faith is truly tested. When prayers feel unanswered and doors remain closed, what spiritual habits help you stay in the story rather than walking away? [58:32]
Just as a parent wouldn't give a high-end car to a teenager who isn't ready to drive, God sometimes delays blessings to protect us. Looking back, can you identify a time when a "no" or a "not yet" from God actually kept you from hurting yourself or others? [56:36]
The enemy often uses personal trials and pressures to distract us right before a major breakthrough. Have you noticed an increase in "chaos" or opposition recently? How can you reframe that pressure as evidence that God is about to do something significant? [36:37]
Holding onto a single "Lego piece" serves as a tangible reminder that the rest of the promise is on the way. What is one "piece" of evidence—a past answered prayer or a specific scripture—that you can cling to this week to maintain your peace while you wait for the next piece to arrive? [01:16:48]
Delay is often used for development rather than punishment. In your current season of waiting, what character traits (like humility or patience) do you feel God is trying to sharpen in you? [01:03:20]

Sermon Clips

God will shield seemingly good things in our lives because he has a purpose for you not receiving it. Why do things take so long? You're he's the god that's outside of time. He's already in the future. Why can't he just voila? Well, he can but he won't. Because there is a purpose in the pause. [00:52:18] (30 seconds) #PurposeInThePause

god hits pause on your process, on your progress, on your promise because there's something he needs to do in your life before you get there and if he skips it, you're going to miss a very important chapter in the story. [00:53:54] (18 seconds) #PauseToPrepare

``That's right God is not rushing to fulfill your promise. He's committed to preparing you for it. If god fulfilled every promise, every prayer instantly, you would be blessed but not built for it. You would be elevated but you would not be equipped for it. Right. You would be promoted but you would not be mature enough to steward it. Waiting is not punishment. Oh, come on. It's preparation. [00:54:12] (31 seconds) #PreparedNotPromoted

The middle is where faith gets tested. That's where it is right there. You know, one thing leads to another. I hate that phrase. Right. So much because what it does, it skips over important information. Right. Right. Think about this for a minute. Germany invaded Poland. Okay. One thing led to another and we bombed Japan. You know, without the context and the missing chapters, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense, does it? Right. Right. You're gonna need to know why what there. Yeah. There's a B through Y in order to get A through Z and we need that B through Y. Right. On that story. You can't leave out the middle chapters. Right. You can't leave out the middle of your story. You can't leave out the process. [00:57:08] (51 seconds) #MiddleChaptersMatter

cannot leave out the middle of your story. The hardest place to trust god is in not in the beginning and it's not in the end. It's in the middle. Right. The middle is where your prayer feels like it's unanswered. The middle is where the door stay closed no matter how much you knock and try. The middle is where progress feels invisible. The middle is where god feels quiet. [00:58:11] (25 seconds) #TrustTheMiddle

In Romans eight twenty eight starts with and we know. As we know. But let's be honest. Sometimes we don't know. Right. Or we sometimes we don't feel. Okay. Like we know. There it is. We're just hoping. Yeah. Faith isn't believing when everything makes sense. Faith is trusting when the story doesn't make sense yet. Come on, pastor. Come on. Waiting really reveals about what we believe in god. [00:58:36] (30 seconds) #FaithWhenItDoesntMakeSense

The delay is used for development. Yeah. Okay. That's good. If everything worked out quickly. Yeah. Come on. You wouldn't pray as deeply. Tell the truth. When was the most earnest prayers that you've ever prayed? It was when you were in crisis and you didn't know what else to do. Right. Right. You wouldn't depend on him fully until you first been in a situation where you were past your means. [01:02:15] (27 seconds) #DelayForDevelopment

Walking away doesn't cancel god's plan. Right. But it may keep you from experiencing it to the fullness that he wanted you to. So, don't let frustration rob you of fulfillment. Yeah. Don't let waiting turn into wandering. [01:08:35] (21 seconds) #StayForFullness

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Hold On to Your Promise: The Long Story

Devotional

Day 1: Release Burdens, Receive God's Presence

Day 2: Breakthrough Follows Intense Opposition

Day 3: Embrace the Process, Trust the Story

Day 4: Purpose in Every Pause

Day 5: Hold Firm to the First Piece

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Hold On to Your Promise: The Long Story

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