Dear friend, Are you one of those who is waiting for an answer to your prayers? Jesus wants to speak to you personally and help you understand the waiting time.
If we have to broadly categorize God’s answer to our prayers, it would be either Yes, No, or Wait. God is our heavenly father. He knows our future. Jesus always wants to give us His best. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.“. There are times when He immediately says yes and Amen to our prayer. We gladly give testimony to God when our prayers get answered. There are times when God does ask us to wait. Waiting for God’s answer could lead to anxious moments depending on our circumstances.
Some wait on God’s presence for their future. For example, they could pray for a life partner or pray about what path they should choose in education or a job.
Others are waiting for God’s healing. They are already in pain for many years. Some are already in deep debt. The creditors are chasing them. They desperately seek an answer from God. There are those whose marriage is falling apart. They need divine help. Some students are facing exams and in need of heavenly wisdom. Some are depressed, failed, addicted, and anxious. They are knocking the heaven’s door for freedom and help. The waiting time for the above category of individuals could be painful as time passes.
Dear friend, if you are going through one of the above situations and desperately looking for help, Jesus does care for you. He wants to help you. The Bible says, “He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.” God can make your life beautiful. He never cast anyone away. The heart of Jesus bleeds when people suffer.
What does the Bible say about waiting?
There are lessons from the Bible about waiting we can all learn. God molded many saints during their waiting times. The below examples are not to show that your waiting time would be long. But to show how God used the waiting time to transform the lives of people. As we write this, we pray that Jesus speaks to your heart. Let His word comfort your heart and give you understanding and insight.
God did promise Abraham a son. The Bible says, “He(God) brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” God thoroughly tested him before giving him one. The Bible says, “Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.” Abraham waited for a son for 25 years. He never grumbled but kept his hope in the promise God gave him. Are you ready to trust as Moses did?
Moses thought he could save the Israelites through his power and position. But God put him in the wilderness for 40 years to chisel away all his pride and power. God did use the same, Moses. God said, “Now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them.10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses released Israel from the slavery of Egypt after 40 years of waiting. God kept him in the wilderness to teach him valuable lessons so that he can become a great leader later on. Please check your life. Is God trying to teach you something today?
Joseph had a dream. He knew he would become an honorable and respected man. But he was sold as a slave at the age of 18. He finally stood before the king at the age of 30. God tested him in many parts of his life. Joseph fled from adultery. He feared and glorified God in everything He did. When it was time to raise him, God picked him up from prison to the prime minister of Egypt. Nothing could stop his advancement. The Bible says, “Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.” Are you ready to glorify the name of Jesus as Joseph did? God might test our integrity during difficult situations.
Job lost everything. His wife asked him to curse God and die. He lost all riches and all his dear children. He spent miserable days and nights on this earth. Everyone thought his life is over and done. But God lifted him once again. The Bible says, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys.” God will watch how we manage, and remain truthful and loyal to Him during our tough times.
Apostle Paul spent many years in the desert alone after he accepted Christ. Nobody was willing to accept him due to his previous behavior as the persecutor of Christians. The time he spent alone for three years with Jesus led him to be an apostle of God. He ended up writing 50% of the New Testament book. Are we ready to sit in God’s presence and willing to meditate on His will amid our storm?
Jesus waited for 40 days and nights in prayer and fasting, alone in the wilderness, before starting his ministry. When he was hungry and tired He was allowed to be tested by satan. The Bible says, “Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.”
These are powerful examples from Bible. God created, molded, and chiseled new heroes and winners out of the waiting time.
How to face the waiting time in your life?
Dear friend, if you are waiting for answers from God then what you should do? Here are some of the biblical suggestions.
- Reconcile with God, if not done so: If you have not reconciled with Jesus by asking for forgiveness, please do so now. Jesus can not hear our prayers when we do not reconcile with Him. If you need help in knowing how to reconcile with Jesus, you can click the link here => Jesus wants to forgive your past. God says, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Jesus wants to forgive all your past right now. It’s your time to seek Him and receive forgiveness.
- Jesus has not forgotten you: If you have reconciled with Jesus, and waiting for answers then please realize Jesus has not forgotten about you. He died for you on the cross. You are His precious child. He has not forgotten your prayers. Your prayers are not going in vain. God says, “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you“
- Jesus understands your situation: Jesus was not born to rich parents in a palace. He was born in a manger. His father was an ordinary carpenter. The Bible stops talking about His father after the age of 12. There is a high probability, that Jesus was groomed by a single mom. He took the family responsibility on His shoulders till the age of 30. He knew what temptation is. He knew very well about poverty and living without food. He was crushed, cursed, and died for our sake on the cross. Jesus understands the pain and difficulties of life. Dear friend, are you a single mom, or living in poverty, going through debt? Jesus knows your situation. He has gone through it. He knows how to free you. The Bible says, “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!“
- Do not force Jesus to answer you in a specific way: God knows how to answer your prayers. He is the way maker. He is wiser than us. His ways are far higher than our ways. God says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Please ask Jesus to lead you. Do not try to show the way for Jesus. Let him be with the master. Let us be the followers of Him.
- Believe in Him: Please do not stop putting your faith in God. You are waiting for God in vain. Your waiting time is not a wasted time. The Bible says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” “Those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be, They shall walk and not faint.”
Dear friend, we are going to pray along with you now. Jesus is going to join us as we pray to Him. He is the centerpiece of our prayer. He alone can answer our prayers. Do not lose hope. Let’s go to His presence and ask Him to touch your life. We are praying along with you. Let’s pray together with one heart and one mind.
Dear Jesus, we are praying for our dear brother / Sister, who is praying along with us today. We come together in one accord and with one voice. Jesus, you know their heart and their needs. We especially pray for those who are awaiting answers to their prayers. You do everything in your time beautifully. Your answers are perfect. We believe in you. Please strengthen them while they are awaiting. Please fill their life with your heavenly peace. Guard their heart and help them not lose their faith. Jesus, we believe in you. Your ways are far higher than our thoughts. We are mortal men. You are an immortal God. Nothing is impossible for you. We give you all the glory. We stand before you with a humble heart. Jesus, we know you have not forgotten any of us. Our prayers are not in vain. Our time in waiting is not wasted. We lift you. We glorify your name. We pray in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.
Dear friend, we are praying for you. Jesus will surely answer your prayers. Do not worry. May Jesus bless you and make you a blessing for many. Keep in touch.