Have you been praying for something for a while? You feel like you’ve asked and asked and asked God for it but you haven’t seen even a glimmer of hope.

Or maybe you feel like He told you something either in your quiet time or in a dream, like Joseph, and you haven’t seen any sign of it happening? What do you do?

Well, if you’re like Joseph, you keep doing what is in front of you and make an impact there [Genesis 37-40]. No matter where life took him, whether favorable conditions or not,

Joseph worked faithfully at whatever he was given to do.

Eventually, in God’s perfect timing, Joseph’s dream became a reality. He had proven himself faithful in the little things over and over again, so the Lord knew He could trust Joseph in something great.

Jesus spoke about this very thing when He taught the Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30. Those who were faithful with what they had in front of them were given more. In verse 23 we read,

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!'”

However, those who were not faithful with what the master had entrusted to them were cast out. Verses 26-30 say,

His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. “‘Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

Just last week, I saw this principle play out in my own life. For three years I’ve asked God to open a particular door for me. It would have a big impact on getting the anti-trafficking message out, but for three years the door has remained closed. Last spring I thought I saw a glimpse of the door cracking open, but still nothing. I have continued to cry out to Him in prayer over this desire while serving wherever He has opened a door. Then, last week, out of the blue, the door flew wide open. I wasn’t even knocking on it. I was focused on what was right in front of me.

Is there something you’ve asked God to do in your career, your family, your ministry? Don’t give up. You can’t sit on your rear end doing nothing and expect God to move on your behalf. It just doesn’t work that way. As Daddy used to always say,

God feeds the sparrows, but He doesn’t throw the worms in the nest.”

Do what you can with what you have and leave the rest to God. He is faithful and He will do it in His perfect time [1 Thessalonians 5:24]. Not one minute early, but not one minute late either.