FROM WAITING TO WINNING: What Delay Means for Your Destiny

Valarie Harris
May 25
3 min read

By Dr. Valarie Harris | Stepping Out with Purpose

Have you ever found yourself stuck between a dream and its fulfillment? You've prayed, prepared, and positioned yourself, yet the promise still feels far off. If that resonates with you, I want to affirm something right now: Delay is not denial. It is development. It is God's divine classroom, not His courtroom.

This week in our Purpose in Motion livestream series, we will explore what it really means to wait on God and how to move from frustration to faith. The series is called From Waiting to Winning, and it's designed for every woman who is in a season of divine delay, wondering, "God, when is it my turn?"

The Purpose of Delay

The Bible is full of people who had to wait for their promise:

Joseph dreamed of leadership as a teenager, but it wasn't until more than a decade later—after betrayal, slavery, and prison—that he stepped into that promise (Genesis 37–41).
Abraham received God's promise at age 75 but waited 25 years for Isaac to be born (Genesis 21).
David was anointed king as a young shepherd, but he had to endure years of running from Saul before reigning (1 Samuel 16).

God's delays are not without purpose. They are periods of preparation, character development, and spiritual alignment. The waiting season is often where our faith grows the most.

My Journey

I've lived this message:

There was a time when I felt like everything I had prepared for was passing me by. I had the education, training, and experience. I was leading, serving, and showing up with faith, but the breakthrough didn't come.

Opportunities I knew I was ready for slipped through my fingers. Doors closed that I prayed would open. I wrestled with disappointment. But in that delay, God was doing something more profound. He wasn't just opening doors—He was opening me.

That season led me to launch Stepping Out with Purpose. What looked like a detour was a divine redirection. Today, I coach and empower women globally, helping them unlock their purpose and build legacy-driven lives and businesses. Had the original doors opened, I may have missed the movement God wanted me to birth.

What to Do While You Wait

If you're in a waiting season right now, here are a few things you can do:

Pray with Intention – Seek the when, the why, and the what now.
Fast for Clarity – Fasting clears spiritual noise so you can hear God more clearly.
Surround Yourself with Purpose-Driven People – Join communities that feed your faith, like our Inner Circle.
Speak Life – Your words have power. Declare what you want to see before you see it.

Use declarations like:

"God's timing is perfect, and I trust His plan."
"I am being prepared for my promise."
"This waiting season is a setup for my winning season."

Signs That Breakthrough Is Near

Sometimes, the warfare increases right before the breakthrough. Pay attention to:

Sudden resistance or spiritual warfare
Repeated confirmations from different sources
A renewed sense of urgency in your spirit

These aren't coincidences, they're clues. They often signal that you're stepping into alignment.

A Shift in Perspective

Waiting isn't wasted time. It's working time. It's where God prunes, refines, and prepares you so you don't just receive the promise—you can sustain it.

You're not being punished. You're being positioned. The waiting room of faith is never comfortable, but it's always necessary. God is developing you in private before promoting you in public.

Final Thoughts

Don't despise the delay. Embrace it. Let it deepen your faith, sharpen your discernment, and strengthen your resolve. You may feel behind schedule, but you're right on time for what God is doing in you.

Your waiting is not in vain—it's a part of your winning story.

So declare it now: "I'm not behind—I'm in development. My delay is not a dead end. It's divine preparation for a greater assignment."

If this message blessed you, I invite you to: