Exodus 3:7 tells us God heard the cries of His people. He knew they were suffering in exile. Yet their promised deliverance lingered, and because days stretched into weeks and weeks into months and months into years, they began to wonder if God had forgotten them.

Have you ever caught yourself wondering the same thing? Maybe you have obeyed Him and followed Him faithfully, but now you are standing at a crossroads of hope and doubt.

Choose to hope in the Lord. He has not forgotten you. He has heard your cry, and He is working behind the scenes to deliver you. Timing is everything with God. He knows when you are in the right position to move on to the next step. You can be sure of this: He won’t be late; He will be right on time!

Moses had almost forgotten what it was like to hear the distressing cries of God’s people. He had been banished to the wilderness, but not to be punished. Instead, he was being trained for a greater purpose.

In the beginning, Moses thought he had to take matters into his own hands. He ended up killing an Egyptian, which was not a part of God’s plan. After this incident, the Lord drew him aside for 40 years—silencing his heart and tempering Moses so he would be willing to humbly obey and trust His leading.

If you feel as though you have been set aside by the Lord, know that you are not being punished. You are being readied for the next step. Make sure your obedience is unconditional and your willingness to follow the Lord is sincere.

Prayer: Lord, teach me to follow only You. Reveal Yourself to me in this season and deepen my trust in You in the midst of the unknown. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32).

Check out more from Dr. Michael Youssef, here!

About The Author

Dr. Michael Youssef, Ph.D.

Even before he was born, it is clear that God had a vision for Michael Youssef. His mother was in poor health when she became pregnant with Michael, and because his life was in danger at the time of birth, the doctor recommended terminating the pregnancy. An abortion was scheduled. But God intervened and sent the family pastor to reassure them that God was involved in this pregnancy. He told them not to be afraid and that the child would be "born to serve the Lord." Michael's parents accepted the pastor's message as a message from God and obeyed. His mother gave birth, and lived to see him give his life to the Lord at the age of sixteen.


Believing that God had called him out of Egypt, Michael sought an exit visa in a time in which no university student was allowed to have a passport or leave the country. God intervened again, and miraculously he managed to acquire a visa. He immigrated to Australia, where he studied at Moore Theological College in Sydney, was ordained as a pastor, and met Elizabeth who became his wife.


The Youssefs came to America in 1977, and in 1978 Michael received a master's degree in theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in California. Then he earned a doctorate in social anthropology at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Michael served nearly ten years in the Haggai Institute, traveling around the world more than 32 times, teaching courses in evangelism and leadership. He rose to the position of Managing Director at the age of 31 years. The family settled in Atlanta, and in 1984, Michael became a citizen of the United States, making his dream of many years come true.


He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission of "Equipping the Saints and Searching for the Lost". The church has since grown to be a congregation of over 3,000 people today. This church has driven the international ministry of Leading the Way. While it is heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached through radio waves, is the heart of a pastor, willing to nurture and care for these people. Clearly God has uniquely equipped Dr. Youssef to speak to a global audience. The path he has taken has given him an understanding and firm grasp of the Scriptures that transcend cultures. He preaches, teaches and calls with a sincere, based on the authority of the inerrant, inspired Word of God. With his personal knowledge of the Holy Land, its history and culture, Dr. Michael Youssef transmits life to listeners all over the world.



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