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NO DELAY, NO DENIAL. IT WAS HIS PERFECT TIMING.
By Olatunbosun OlalekanNovember 19, 20194 min read10,317 views14 comments
(My odyssey as an Undergraduate, Part 1)
' Before you agree that there is a delay, you must have been the one in charge of time. If you do not know what your time was, how do you know it was delayed? In His time, He makes all things perfect.
Over time, I have seen recent graduates use the tagline, 'Delayed Not Denied'. As much as this looks rational, the Holy Spirit has on several occasions chastised me for not using it. Well, it is subjective to believe that you have been delayed but not denied, but I chose to believe that everything was according to His time. He is a perfect one as such, and he is never late.
On two occasions, I have reflected on how my journey seemed 'too slow' and He has consistently reminded me of two verses that always get me thinking. I'll share.
The first verse was in the eleventh verse of the ninth chapter of the book of Ecclesiastes (ESV)
"Again, I saw that under the sun, the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all."
Let me first establish from here that the effort and the opportunity to bag a degree were never a function of my strength, skills, or knowledge but of time and chance.
Then, you should also see the second book of Habakkuk, its 3rd verse (KJV)
"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end, it shall speak and not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
I am enthralled by the last statement. '...because it will surely come, it will not tarry". It is evident that delay is never in God's plan. And without doubt, outside God's plan, there is nothing I want. And inside God's plan, there is nothing I fear. God doesn't have a delay in stock for me.
Ruminating on the events that have unfolded since leaving secondary school in 2011 or 2012 looked like there was an iota of dealy, but hell no, I am affirmative and convinced that it was according to all that He has in mind. His thoughts towards me are good, not evil (Jeremiah 11:29).
We all need to realize that God doesn't wish evil. He is not interested in delaying us. Even if my circumstances may look like they are, He must have permitted them so that His will may be fulfilled. That circumstance is an integral part of His plan to come to fulfilment.
You don't need to run ahead of your shadows. Stay on course with him. His worst plan, if he has any, is better than your best plan.
I remember when of these day I was worried about 'my time', the Holy Spirit instructed me plainly, saying,
'When God says 2:00 p.m., no amount of your effort can make it 1:59 p.m. And when God says 2:00 pm, only you can, with the works of your hands, make it 3:00pm.'
God is never late. Most times, when it seems He is coming late for us, He is actually coming by His plan, and He is coming big.
Shalom.
Olalekan Olatunbosun (The Catalyst) writes.
Your latest graduate.
OO
Written by
Olatunbosun Olalekan
Leadership advisor, strategist and writer.
Saving this to read again next week. Plenty to unpack.
Came for the title, stayed for the truth.
This is the conversation we should be having more publicly.
This is going into the family group chat tonight.
I've been following your writing since 2020 and you keep getting better. Would love to read a follow-up that goes even deeper into this.
Read this twice. Will be referencing it in my next leadership session. Would love to read a follow-up that goes even deeper into this.
Brilliant perspective. Africa needs more thinkers like you. I'd pay for a workshop on this exact topic. Please consider it.
Quietly profound.
This is my favorite kind of writing — quiet, clear, useful.
Olatunbosun, you've done it again. May your ink never run dry.