We live in an auto-response world. When we order something on-line we’re annoyed if the order acknowledgement takes longer than 10 seconds to arrive.  And if delivery is going to take more than a day or so, we’re wondering if the vendor has ever heard of customer service.

When we pray about something, especially if it’s personal, we also want an immediate answer.  There is no consideration among us about timing being right – God’s timing. We want what we want when we want it. Is that how prayer works?

God, who is unaffected by time, will not jump to our commands to act inside of a time frame we choose. He is God and we are His people. We are not His god.  We obey Him because He is omniscient and wise, holy and righteous.  He is under no obligation to obey us. He is the One who works things together for our good.

We often must wait for God to answer our prayers for the salvation of a family member, for the healing of a sick friend, the resolution of a difficult problem, for the financial provision we think will solve our problems, or the right spouse, job, house, or whatever we’re wanting today. If you confess Christ as your Savior and you’re waiting for an answer to one of these prayers, understand that He is working, even if it doesn’t seem so. His ways are not our ways and His timing is not our timing,

There are plenty of verses in the Bible that address waiting:

• It tells us to take courage (Psalm 31:27 Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD!) because waiting for the Lord can be scary.
• It tells us not to fret (Psalm 37:7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!) because we tend to worry when God doesn’t act as quickly as we would like.
• He reminds us that it’s His job to repay evil (Proverbs 20:22, Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you.  Romans 12:19, Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.).
• Last, in Lamentations we’re reminded to wait quietly (Lamentations 3:25-26 The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD) because we tend to want to whine and vent to people about how awful our circumstances are and maybe even complain about God’s lack of action. That kind of talk does not honor God or show any trust that His way will be the best way, that His timing will be the best timing.

If you and I are claiming that we trust God we will wait patiently for Him to act in our lives and the lives of those we’re praying for.  In Psalm 130:5 the Psalmist says that he will wait for the Lord and that his hope is in God’s word.  If we want to please God by trusting and waiting patiently for Him then we have to know what His word says so that we are convinced of His trustworthiness.  The more we know of Him the easier it is to trust Him.  The best way to get to know Him is through His word.

God hears the prayers of His people. He answers in His time. Will we pray and wait patiently for His answer? While you’re waiting, why not spend time in God’s word and encourage yourself about His faithfulness?