Waiting

It isn't easy to wait sometimes, especially in our world of fast food drive-thru's where your order is already being handed out before you even reach the pick up window. But prayer requests aren't like that. Sometimes we have to wait a long time before God reveals His answers.

But if we truly trust God (and I admit that sometimes it is difficult to completely give up our fears and inhibitions), then we can trust that our waiting will not be in vain. His answer will come, and we may be surprised at the outcome. We might find ourselves being changed in the process.

If you read your Bible carefully, you will notice that everyone had to wait for God's timing. Joseph had been given a dream that his family would bow down to him, yet that wasn't fulfilled for many years when he was made second in command of Egypt. Abraham was told by God that his ancestors would own the entire land of Canaan, yet it didn't happen for hundreds of years. Genesis 3 talks about the promised Messiah, but He (Jesus) didn't arrive on the scene for several thousands of years after Adam and Eve's sin.

Waiting is part of God's plan. It gives us a time to prepare our hearts for God's answer. It isn't easy, but the sooner we hunker down and wait, with trust in our hearts, the easier it becomes.

The Psalms are a great source of encouraging words while you wait. A personal favorite is Psalm 27:14, "Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD!"

God will answer our prayers. But sometimes we just have to wait.