When you look at the trees you realize a profound wisdom that lies in nature. How that during the rainy seasons the leaves are green but during the dry seasons the leaves fall off to reduce water loss. The roots then grow deeper into the earth in search of more water. This is how trees survive during the dry seasons, in anticipation of when the season changes in their favour and they can have all the water they need to grow.

Therein lies a profound wisdom that is needed at this time. Many believers would prefer to just pray and hope for divine favour and opportune moments, without any active preparation for those opportunities. But isn’t it interesting that the trees know better than we do? They re-strategize in such a way that it ensures their survival until that time comes when the clouds begin to give rain again.

This introduces us to what we want to talk about today- Chronos, what to do while waiting for Kairos.

Kairos as defined yesterday is opportune time, and Chronos means clock or sequential time. Kairos is qualitative, while Chronos is quantitative. Chronos refers to measurable time, like in years, months, days, or hours. Kairos is talking about a specific time, chance, and opportune moments.

The Bible tells us a story of a young Hebrew man, named Joseph who was sold off by his own brothers to slavery and he was later sold to Egyptian prison guards.

While in prison, you would think nothing would come out of a common prisoner. But let’s see how Joseph was doing

Genesis 39:22-23

New International Version

22 So the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there.

23 The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph’s care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

His brothers were jealous of him and that’s why they sold him to slavery. But even in suffering, Joseph still somehow manages to stand out.

So, when Pharaoh begins to have strange dreams that disturb him at night, they search around but cannot find anyone who understands these dreams, until someone suggests, that there’s a Hebrew prisoner that interprets dreams very well. So Pharaoh sends for him.

Genesis 41:15

New International Version

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

Pharaoh narrated his dreams first of seven fat cows and seven lean cows. Then, the second of seven heads of good grain and seven heads of thin grain. In the first dream, the seven ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows and in the second one, the thin grains swallowed up the good grains. (Genesis 41:17-24)

Joseph interprets the dream to mean that the seven cows and seven heads of grain represent seven years. He said the two dreams mean the same thing and that meant that there would be seven years of abundance in the land of Egypt followed by seven years of severe famine. (Genesis 41:25-32)

What’s amazing about the story is that Joseph doesn’t just interpret the dream but he also shares wisdom on what they should do about it.

Genesis 41:33-35

New International Version

33 And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.

35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.

Joseph tells them to save for times of famine. He tells them to store up the abundance so that when resources are scarce, there would still be enough to sustain the people. This is an intelligent economic strategy! His advice to them wasn’t to sit around hoping that the seven years of famine wouldn’t come. It was to do something about it.

Let’s look at the way the Pharaoh responded,

Genesis 41:39-40

New King James Version

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you.

40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”

This was how Joseph suddenly rose to power in Egypt, to be second in command to the king of a nation in which he had no citizenship.

This is so powerful! Because this one chance opportunity changed his life forever. Through his intelligent leadership and expertise, he made Egypt a storehouse for food while there was famine in the land. People from all over in search of food came to ask from Egypt.

This story is important because when people hear of opportune time, or kairos, they think of miracles and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, which is correct but they forget that many times that Kairos moments have been years in the making. You cry and desperately hope for God to bless you with the best. But how prepared are you for it?

Take a few minutes to think about the story of Joseph, what made him stand out wasn’t just that he had an extraordinary gift to interpret dreams but more so the fact that he had a track record of being wise and excellent. That was what made him fit to sit amongst kings. He had the qualifications for the position.

Proverbs 22:29

New International Version

29 Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank.

Praying and hoping is great but it is not the only ingredient to success. If you have a gift or vision from God that can bless the world and you’re just waiting on a Kairos moment, you can end up missing it before you start working towards it because you lack the skills, qualifications, preparation, and heart needed for the job.

Every believer must understand this; Kairos is Chronos well managed. Chronos is when you stay praying yet preparing. Be expectant for a favour while building the right capacity, hoping to getting the right experience for the job. Like for Joseph, he didn’t just appear before the king, he had a track record that made people suggest him as the man for the job.

So while waiting for Kairos, these are the things you should do;

1. Develop a routine and passion for greatness: As the saying goes, nothing good ever comes easy. Build the hunger for excellence and commitment that will make you competent for Kairos.

2. Exercise and improve on your gifts: do not be satisfied and comfortable in your current state, continue to expand and broaden your knowledge and skill set.

3. Take corrections and criticism: learn to be open to correction from trusted persons like your pastor and friends that love you.

4. Fix your eyes on the one that sent you: it doesn’t matter what the world has said about you. It matters most what God says about you.

Prayer Point:

Father God, I declare that from today, I trust in your will and plans for me. I begin to take active steps towards my purpose fulfilling destiny. I set my gaze on what you’ve said about me, and I stay building and preparing for all you’ve set ahead of me.