By Faith Enterprises

Our Father has Reasons that Are known Only to Him for Keeping Us Waiting

Tip! Note how frequently prayer is brought to are attention in the Holy Bible’s New Testament: “Continuing instant in prayer”; “Pray without ceasing”; “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving”; “Be ye sober and watch unto prayer”; Christ’s clear call was “watch and pray.” What are all these and others, if it is not the will of God that men should pray?

"Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you."

- Isaiah 30:18

God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have a number of illustrations of this in holy Scripture, God's Word. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day-he had to wrestle all night for it. Joseph was a slave then a prisoner for many years before he was the second in command of Egypt. Abraham had to wait 25 years for the promise of a child. The poor woman of Syrophenicia did not get an answered, not a word form Jesus for a long while. Paul pleads with the Lord three times that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him, and he did not receive an assurance that it would be taken away, but instead Paul got a promise that God's grace should be sufficient for him.

If you have been knocking at the gate of mercy, and have not received an answer, can I tell you why the mighty Maker has not opened the door and to let you in?

Our Father has reasons that are known only to Him for keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. Believe it or not, more frequently the delay is for our own profit and good. You are perhaps kept waiting in order that your desires may be more fervent. God recognizes that delays will increase desire, and that if He keeps you waiting you will see the need more clearly, and will seek it more earnestly; and that you will honor the mercy all the more for its long wait.

Tip! THE possibilities of prayer are gauged by faith in God's ability to do. Faith is the one prime condition by which God works.

There may also be something wrong in you that must be removed, before the joy of the Lord can be given. Perhaps your views of the Gospel plan are confused, or you may have been placing some little reliance on yourself, instead of trusting simply and entirely on the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes you wait awhile that He may more fully display the riches of His grace to you at last. Your prayers are all filed in heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while they will be fulfilled to your delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make you silent in prayer to the Almighty, but continue immediate in earnest supplication.