Habakkuk 2:1-3 English Standard Version
1 I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint.
The Righteous Shall Live by His Faith
2 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.
3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.
Each of us want to believe we are sound of faith, to do all that we can to obey God. We seek God, we hear God, we obey God and then that human thing happens, we want to see the results.
I have to think about these Old Testament prophets that were not used of God in instant moments as Elijah and Elisha had been used. Habakkuk delivered the vision and never got to see how it played out for his readers. Here it is thousands of years later and his work speaks to me because God is faithful and His Word does not fail.
Man has that seed planting desire to see the seed grow into something as if he has done something more just plant the seed. Germination is beyond his control, watering might be the task of another, weeding, cultivation and harvest will often be the work of others.
God tells us at the appointed time and we do not get to determine that time. Neither should our desire to see results cause us to doubt God no delay our next opportunity to obey God. God is always about doing kingdom business. Soundness is looking to God for the next opportunity and not to get delayed in that effort by worrying if our efforts have been fruitful.