I re-discovered a little verse this morning. It describes the famine in the land, and how Joseph was sent ahead to Egypt, but then waited in chains:

Ps 105:19 Until the time came to fufill his word,
the Lord tested Joseph's character. (NLT)

So in due season, at the right time, the promise would become fufilled. In the meantime, Joseph's character was tested. Then he would be ready for the fufillment of the word of the Lord. The New King James has a different twist on it....

Until the time that his word came to pass,
the word of the Lord tested him.

It almost feels to me like the prophetic word or promise itself tested Joseph. In his case, the dream that he was meant to be in a place of authority. Did he struggle as a servant or in jail for those years: "Hey wait! I was meant to be more than this!" I think I have echoed those same words many times about many prophetic promises that are still unfufilled in my life.

Can I, can we wait until the time comes for the word to be fufilled?