THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Lord, this isn’t the first time you have been asked this ancient question: Why don’t you answer our prayers right away?

Jesus. you know what we need. In your Sermon on the Mount you taught that our heavenly Father knows our needs before we even know our needs (Matthew 6:8). The psalmist wrote of praying for an urgent need, and then … silence. But he kept praying … again, more crickets. How many have heard this sound of silence? I raise my hand.

The psalmist begins, “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me …” (Psalm 40:1 NLT)

The psalmist didn’t indicate how long he waited. A week? Month(s)? Year(s)? He claims to have waited patiently for the Lord. We all have our waiting limits. Surely, at some point, he must have been a little antsy, waiting on you. Can you hear me up there in Heaven?

Did the psalmist question if he prayed incorrectly, with wrong motives? Was your silence an indication you were displeased with him? Is it possible unforgiveness harbored in his heart blocked your answer? Or perhaps you designed this delay to test the psalmist’s faith. Regardless, you were his shelter and he trusted you would do what you said you would do.

Do you allow this waiting period for our benefit, to reassure our faith that you answer our prayers, but in your timing, not ours.

The psalmist continued: “… and he turned to me and heard my cry” (Psalm 40:1b NLT).

Finally! God answered. If I were the psalmist, acting on my impatience, my first question would have been, “What took you so long?”

Forgive me, Lord, My questions should be, “What do you want to show me?” “What is your higher purpose in this situation?” “How can this waiting period increase my faith and bring you honor?”

Lord, calm our restlessness with your peace. If you have to, teach us patience through our impatience. Increase our faith while we wait patiently for you to answer our prayer, in your timing, of course. Amen, Jesus.