I was in my early teens when my father was preaching a week-long revival at Boone Tabernacle in Kansas City. One night during the week, the saints were rejoicing, shouting and dancing. So was I. But then, someone stepped on my toes, crushing them.

One of the older women at the church, a kind evangelist, began praying for me once she learned of my injury. Unfortunately, when she laid hands on the injured toes and prayed, she also applied pressure to them. That made the pain even worse. Before that evening, I had never prayed that someone would stop praying for me!

Once she finished, I hobbled to my seat in agony. The next day, three of my toes were black and blue and too swollen to fit inside my shoe. When the revival was over, I returned home to Buffalo and headed to see the doctor with my mom. He performed X-rays and told me I had sustained hairline fractures in three of my toes. Even though the excruciating ache and severe swelling and bruising indicated that something had gone wrong, I was still pretty shocked at the diagnosis.

It was equally shocking for me to learn that no treatment was available for the fractures. I simply had to rest, ice my toes, keep my foot elevated, and wait for the fractures to heal on their own. Surely, I thought, that couldn’t be right. There must have been something more that could be done. But the good doc assured me that in due time, if I followed doctor’s orders, healing would take place. He was right, too. Over time, things got better, and the toes went right back to normal.

You know, some things take time to get better. In our walk with the Lord, we go through situations that leave us crushed, broken, bruised and battered, and we want relief right away. We pray for immediate change. But there are seasons when God, like my doctor, will say, rest and wait, and the healing, breakthrough, and deliverance you’re seeking will come.

In Luke 1:5-25, we see a righteous couple, Zechariah and Elizabeth, serving the Lord faithfully and hurting. Despite their piety, they were dealing with the devastating reality that Elizabeth was unable to have children. Though Zechariah had prayed, they saw no healing or miraculous opening of her womb.

But one day, an angel appeared to Zechariah in the temple and prophesied that God would make Elizabeth fruitful. She would give birth to a son, John, in her old age. Their son would be anointed to preach repentance and pave the way for Jesus Christ the Messiah. And just as the angel prophesied and God promised, Elizabeth conceived! In verse 25, she said, “The Lord has done this for me. In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace...”

During their lengthy waiting season, Zechariah and Elizabeth had no idea or expectation that God would heal their barrenness. They had accepted their fate and never imagined the Lord would make their story an integral part of the redemption story. Similarly, you can’t even imagine all the wonderful ways God will use you and bless you. Though you may be broken and barren, crushed and discouraged, hurting and shattered, God is not done. Your season is coming. There is a set time of release. In the meantime, rest and wait, and know that nothing can stop God’s purpose from prevailing.

To remind you of this truth, I’m stirring Isaiah 48:3 into your cup of inspiration, which says, “I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

As you drink down the contents of your cup, receive this word as God’s announcement that His word will manifest. Your season of breakthrough will come.

Now, let’s pray.

God, I have been crying out to You for change. But some days, it seems like things will never change. Yet, I choose to believe that You will deliver me in due season. Please give me strength as I wait and trust You to show me favor. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you desire prayer, please allow me, along with my intercessory prayer team, to stand in faith with you for breakthrough. We would be so honored. We have seen God work over and over again. There is power in agreement. Click here to request prayer now.

As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!