I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God.
Psalm 38:15
Waiting is hard to do when we’ve become accustomed to instant access to just about anything we want or need. So when we are waiting in line, waiting to speak to a human when calling customer service, waiting for good news, or bad…waiting on God, we become frustrated. Because when we send a prayer request to God it’s not like sending an email or text where we can expect an answer within minutes, or even within the day. God answers prayers in His own perfect timing. Rarely that answer will come instantly, but most of the time we will be in that perpetual state of waiting for a while.
But Why Does God Make Us Wait?
THE TEST. In my own personal experience God likes to run me through a few tests before blessing me with an answered prayer. If I am praying for something like a bigger house, He wants to make sure I can take good care of my current home first. If I am praying for a job with more responsibility, God will make sure I handle the stress of my current job before he promotes me onto something that will likely be more stressful. If I can wait for my prayers to be answered with a good attitude and prove to God that I can handle what I am asking for, I can be sure that He will answer my prayer.
THE RIGHT TIME. You may think the timing is perfect to move, to get a different job, to have another child, but is it right in God’s time? God will sometimes make you wait for answers to certain prayers because it’s just not the right time yet. He, and only He, knows the right time for you to receive your blessings. When we do things on our own time, we’ll often be hit with setbacks and tremendous frustration. When we wait patiently for God, all things will fall into place and run smoothly.
MOTIVATION. God also wants to make sure your heart is right. What I mean by this is God would love to give you all your heart’s desire, but He also wants to be certain that you don’t misuse your blessings. If your intent of praying for more money is only so you can feel superior above others, that would be a misuse of a blessing. Praying for money to support your family or to help your community is the right motivation for a prayer of prosperity.
These are just a few reasons God puts us in that perpetual state of waiting, but I think they give you a good understanding of why God doesn’t send the answers to your prayers instantaneously. He is waiting on you. YES! God waits for you too! He waits for you to show Him you can be patient; He waits for you to show Him you will rely on Him for help when there are obstacles in your path, He waits for your heart to be right. So you see, it’s not just us that are doing all the waiting. He waits too.
Let’s Pray:
Dear Lord, we find it so hard to wait, but we do understand that everything has to be done in your perfect timing. Help us to be patient, Lord. Help us to use our waiting period to grow closer to You. Always let us know that it is Your will that will be done, not ours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Your Assignment:
Reflect back on a time in your life when you prayed for something, but it wasn’t answered right away. When was that prayer answered? In hindsight can you now see why God made you wait for that answered prayer?
Godspeed,
Sarah
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About Sarah Boyer
oh! the waiting…! God does have much purpose in having us to wait, sarah, i SO agree! thanks, too, for the reminder of that beautiful verse <3
Sometimes the waiting can simply be to teach us patience! I so agree, Miss Sarah! Good job!
There is so much purpose in our waiting! Teaching patience is probably at the top of His list b/c we are such an impatient bunch!! At least I am! 😉
Sarah, you brought out such good points on why we sometimes have to wait for answered prayer. I also especially like how God waits on us, too. I remember praying for a particular job opening, but it didn't come through. What came later was even better than I could have ever expected. His ways were so much higher than mine.
I love it when we can look back & see how our waiting was in our best interest. He always has something better waiting for us!!