Wait!
From the earliest days of my walk with God I’ve mused on why God keeps us waiting. He promised to answer our prayers. He could answer quickly. Why does He keep us waiting?
Right now, the whole world is waiting for some breakthrough in this pandemic and the turmoil surrounding us. And each of us is individually waiting on God for some answer to prayer. Why does He keep us waiting?
Our team prays together each Wednesday morning, and we wrestled together with that question this week. Here are five answers that we heard the Lord whisper to us:
“You are not yet ready to receive what I really want to give you.” Isaiah 30:28 says that the Lord waits to be gracious to us and He waits on high to have compassion on us. Jesus said in John 16:12 “I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.” Jesus saves the best wine for later. One of my teammates said, “God often keeps us waiting because He’s baking us, and we’re not ready yet!”
“I am making you stronger for the greater things that I want to do through you.” The Israelites had been waiting a long time when God said, “The Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired…. Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.” (Isaiah 40:28 & 31). Will we quit before the end of the workout?
“You have a persistent enemy.” Daniel had been praying for a long time when Gabriel came with an answer to his prayer and explained why he was “late”. “From the first day… your words were heard… but the prince of the kingdom of Persia was withstanding me for twenty-one days.” (Daniel 10:12-13) We have little idea of what is happening in the heavens as we pray, but apparently the angels are doing some heavy lifting for us. Can we be patient while they fight for us?
“I want to give you something better.” If we are wise, we’ll thank God for not answering some of our immature prayers. Psalm 106:15 KJV says, “He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul.” Have you noticed how our prayers ripen and transform with age? Jesus explained why it’s important to keep on asking, seeking and knocking: “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:13). One of my colleagues observed that few believers start out asking for the Spirit, but that’s a good place to land. Now I begin each day saying, “Come, Holy Spirit!” The old saints speak of tarrying. If you want God’s best, you often have to wait for it.
“I am building your faith, hope and love.” At the end of the story of the persistent widow, which Jesus told to show that at all times we ought to pray and not to lose heart, Jesus asked, “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Faith is like a muscle that grows with exercise as we wait on God. No pain, no gain. Hope grows when tested. Here are five words that most motivate me to persist in prayer: I pray because I love.
Our house is full of grandchildren these days. They are persistent! Sometimes I keep them waiting, usually for good reasons. They don’t always understand why, but in my heart of hearts I’m eager to give them what they most need. Our God is like that.
You may want to sit with these thoughts as you listen to this song: I Will Wait.