As Good As Dead

As a Christian I have certain expectations, all of which hinge upon this truth: God is faithful to His Word. He will do everything He says He will do.
You might call that faith. I trust God to keep His Word.

The problem is I don't know the how or the when of it. Most of us don't lack faith. We lack patience.
God promised Abraham and Sarah a son from whom a nation would grow, and which would eventually be a blessing to "all the families of the earth." Then God proceeded to wait twenty-five years to do what He promised. He could have given them a son within the next nine months. Or within two years. Or five. Or ten. But He didn't. What was He waiting for?

"... therefore, also, there was born of one man, and him as good as dead at that, as many descendants as the stars of heaven in number, and innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore." Hebrews 11:12

For Abraham, that was the answer to both the how and the when. God waited until Abraham was "as good as dead" before He fulfilled His promise. I think maybe that might be our answer quite often, too.
God waits in many situations until it's "as good as dead" before He acts. He waits until we can't. He waits until it seems to be too late. He waits until we have no other options; until we have no hope unless He does it.