Between the Promise and the Possession, There Is…

Between the promise and the possession, there's always something. That space isn't empty. It's full of choices. Doubts. Delays. Tests of faith. God’s promises are true. But that doesn’t mean everyone who hears them will walk into them. The Bible is full of people who came right up to the edge of their God-given future... and still turned back. They missed the inheritance. I don’t want that for you.

God's promises are real. They are clear, personal, and powerful. But they are not automatic. The Bible shows us again and again that a promise from God still requires faith, obedience, and often, perseverance to be inherited. Just because God said it doesn’t mean you will walk into it automatically. You have to trust Him and keep walking through fear, doubt, and obstacles.

Let’s look at three stories from Scripture—each showing us what it really takes to step into a promise.

# 1. The Promise Can Be Lost to Fear

So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey... - Exodus 3:8

When God told the Israelites that He would give them a land flowing with milk and honey, He meant it. He had just brought them out of Egypt, parted the Red Sea, and led them with fire and cloud. The power of God was visible, fresh, and undeniable. But when the spies saw giants in the land, they forgot everything God had already done. They saw the problem, not the promise. They saw what was in front of their eyes, not what lay beyond their immediate reality. In their unbelief, they let go of their inheritance.

When I graduated from college, my professor and a friend’s mother encouraged me to move to Bangalore. I prayed about it and sensed that I should go. But then I read a disturbing news story. A young boy had been pulled out of a telephone booth and killed during a time of regional tension in Bangalore. That story shook me. Fear took over. I dropped the plan and stayed in Chennai.

Soon after, I attended a sermon where the preacher spoke about the young prophet who disobeyed God and was misled by the older prophet. During the message, the preacher paused and said, “There is a young man here resisting what God is showing. God is telling him to do it.” I knew he was talking to me. I never went back to that church again.

I stayed in Chennai. I got a job and even went to Belgium. On the outside, it looked like I was doing well. But inside, things were hard. That eight-year season was emotionally rough for our family. One thing after another went wrong. My parents used to cry and pray for me every day.

After eight years, I prayed again. “Lord, I’m going to apply for a job. If it’s Your will, help me get something in Bangalore.” I got the job. And after that, everything changed. It felt like I had entered a land of milk and honey. I got married. I had the opportunity to consult for the Government of India. Even though we didn’t know Hindi, and the contract was only for six months, I said yes. I didn’t want to make the same mistake again. That decision turned out to be one of the best in my life. I had children, received an award from the government, and began to walk in a season of blessing. Now, I homeschool my boys, serve two churches, enjoy my work, and live with peace every day.

When I was afraid of the “giants,” I lost my inheritance. But when I moved forward despite fear, I began to walk into what God had already promised. And when the Lord restores, it feels like gliding through a dream.

# 2. The Promise Can Be Lost to Half-Hearted Effort

The man of God was angry with him and said, ‘You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram completely...’ - 2 Kings 13:19

Sometimes the promise is right in front of you, and you even start moving toward it. But if you stop too soon, you may not receive the full measure of it.

There’s a story in the Bible where Elisha tells a king that he will defeat his enemies. He tells him to strike the ground with arrows. The king does it three times and then stops. Elisha becomes angry and says, “You should have struck it five or six times. Now you’ll only defeat them partially.”

Partial obedience leads to partial victory.

In my case, I didn’t study in an English-medium school. When I started speaking in English, I failed often. There were many embarrassing moments. But I kept trying. I didn’t stop after two or three failures. I kept going. Now, by God’s grace, I’ve spoken to thousands of people in English. But it took perseverance.

If you stop short, if you give up too soon, you may never experience the fullness of what God has for you.

# 3. Your Obedience Unlocks Another's Inheritance

“The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth. - Jonah 3:5

Sometimes we think our decisions only affect us. But that’s not true. Your obedience or disobedience can change someone else's future.

Jonah didn’t want to go to Nineveh. He ran away from God. In the end, God had to intervene in a dramatic way to get him back on track. He ended up in Nineveh anyway, and when he preached, the entire city turned to God.

Now contrast that with Peter. God gave him a vision and told him to go to Cornelius’ house. Peter obeyed, and because of that, Cornelius and his whole household became the first Gentiles to receive the Holy Spirit and baptism.

In my own life, when I was in college, one of my seniors named Sunil spoke to me about Christ. Even though I was born in a Christian home, I had never read a single chapter of the Bible. Sunil invited me to a prayer cell. It was there that I first experienced praying without a prayer book and started reading Scripture for myself. That one act of obedience from Sunil changed the entire direction of my life.

Now, 30 years later, I preach in churches and publish daily meditations. What if he had not obeyed the Lord’s voice that day?

Obedience matters. Not just for you. Sometimes your simple “yes” to God unlocks something eternal for someone else.

# Let me leave you with this...

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. - Hebrews 10:23

God’s promises are true. They are rich, personal, and waiting to be inherited. But they don’t carry themselves into your life. You have to walk into them. And that walk will require you to see with the eyes of faith, to persevere even when things look slow or difficult, and to remember that your obedience matters far beyond your own story.

When I feared the giants, I missed my inheritance. When I stepped forward even in uncertainty, I saw blessings unfold. Between the promise and the possession, there was fear, but also grace. And by God’s help, I walked through.

So I leave you with this question: What has God promised you that you have not yet walked into? Are you holding back because of fear? Have you stopped too soon? Or is someone else waiting for your obedience?

Hold on to the promise. Trust His power. And walk forward. The land is yours to inherit.

Image: Crossing of the Red Sea by Cornelis de Wael, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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