Waiting for God’s Answer

In my previous writings I tackled about God’s answers to our prayers and these are yes, no and, wait. The toughest among the 3 is wait. Brace yourself cause it’s not as easy as you think it is. 

Joseph waited for 13 years in prison, Abraham waited for 25 years to have a child, Moses waited for 40 years to see the promise land, Jesus waited for 30 years to begin His ministry. The bleeding woman? She waited 12 years to be finally healed. 

How long do you think can you wait for God’s answer? How do you know when His answer is wait? Even Abraham doubted and chose his own way to fulfill God’s promise in Genesis 16 which resulted to having Ishmael. (Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seemed right to a man but the end of it destruction.) Thus we can say, “wait” is also a test of faith. Matthew 21:22, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe and you will receive. 

This is a formula that may help you in your prayer requests, “Faith + God’s will= Answered Prayer”. Always remember that God is a loving father and He would always want our happiness. And as His children, here’s what we should do (Psalms 37:4), delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. Delight means to make God happy. How? Live a life that is pleasing to God. You should make sure that sin would not block your blessings as a water can run freely through a clean pipe. Also note that in Hebrews 11:6, without faith it is impossible to please God. And your faith, like a pipe, it shouldn’t leak. 

Now, let’s go to the second point “God’s will”. Check if your request is in line with God’s will. Will it bring glory to God? Will it serve His purpose in your life? I remembered a co-church member who recently passed away. Let’s just call her Lyna. We visited a church from a nearby municipality and there I witnessed a miracle. She requested for the whole church to pray for her healing. So, we laid our hands then the intercessory prayer began. She cried out loud, “Lord, if you heal me, I promise that I and my whole family will serve You”. 

Lyna was diagnosed with a terminal kidney failure and she already undergone dialysis treatment for several times but due to financial constraints, she cannot religiously follow her treatment schedule. Her doctor even told her that her condition is getting worse and her days may already be numbered if this will continue. 

Days passed when we heard how Lyna was miraculously healed. She and her family went to church. She announced how her findings turned 360 degrees. It was like her organs were restored and now back to normal without any maintenance. 

Couple of months later, Lyna again requested for intercessory prayer through the pastor. This time, she asked for a job. Wish granted! She got a job but little by little she was not seen during church services. The pastor visited her but she told the pastor she can’t go to church during Sundays cause her body was too tired after work. She worked late hours and she used Sundays as her rest time after doing household activities. She has forgotten her promise or maybe she remembered but ignored it. 

To cut the story short, God was not pleased by what Lyna did. A promise to God should not be easily uttered if you have no plans on fulfilling it. Her sickness returned and became the reason of her death.

Is her healing God’s will? A big yes! Could her healing be used for God’s glory? Yes also! Will it serve His purpose in her life? YES!!! But what was lacking? Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.” 

Now as for us, we don’t have to worry on how long it will take to have God’s answer to our prayers. Numbers 23:19 says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?”. If He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”, then trust Him. Forget your time schedule, wait for God’s time. He is not early; He is not late; He is always on time.