Uncertainty. Endless waiting. Unanswered prayers.
We cry out to God, and we wait and wait for His answer. And wait some more.
These are tense times we live in. Will there be enough food to feed my family? Enough gasoline for my car? Can we afford these higher prices much longer?
Or perhaps you are waiting for a job, a promotion, or even a healing.
David says in Psalm 13:1:
“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?”
How can we wait well? How do we cope while waiting for God to answer?
I have been crying out to the Lord over certain issues and hearing silence. I asked the Lord what He wanted me to learn in the meantime:
“It is in the waiting that you are strengthened by learning to depend on Me. Waiting builds faith muscles.”
1 John 5:4 says:
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
How do we activate our faith to overcome the discouragement of waiting?
I am reminded of Paul and Silas who sang and praised God while waiting in a prison cell. Waiting on answers to our prayers sometimes feels like we are in a prison, too.
How can we free ourselves from these chains of discouragement?
I decided that focusing on what has not yet happened, on the prayer that has not yet been answered, was counterproductive. It was a faith smasher, not a faith builder.
This is what I did instead:
- I thanked the Lord for all His blessings–the beautiful creation He made just for us to enjoy, for the food, clothing and shelter He has provided and all the answers to prayers He has already released.
- I declared: “I trust You, Lord, in these circumstances, while I wait. Strengthen my faith and my dependence on You.”
I reminded myself that God will answer in His timing.
Let’s persevere in prayer and cultivate faith through a grateful heart, through praise and worship and by focusing on who God is–a faithful Father. He has heard our prayers.
He will answer.
What has helped you while you are waiting for answers to your prayers?
Very Good as always.
Thanks, Ron! I appreciate the compliment.