“I waited patiently for the Lord
and he inclined to me, and heard my cry.
He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock,
and established my steps.”
Psalm 40:1-2

I waited patiently…

Patience is one of the most important factors in prayer – and one of the most difficult. Sometimes it seems the Lord is not listening. It may be though, that he is testing one’s heart to see how long one will remain faithful even when not seemingly getting results. Does the lack of apparent results suggest that what we are asking isn’t God’s will? NO. It means God is working something out and it requires time. The answer will come in the right time, if you do not lose heart.

When the Israelites were in the wilderness, the Lord called Moses to come up the mountain to receive God’s Word. Moses told the people to wait for him to return, but he was gone a long time and the people got tired of waiting …and they got into grievous sin.

It is amazing how many stories in the Bible required men to wait. It’s a theme we see over and over again, as though it were supremely valuable to the Lord. God promised Abraham a son through his wife Sarah, but the wait was so long that they took matters into their own hands and Abraham brought forth a son he named Ishmael through Sarah’s maid – a sin whose results wreak havoc to this day, for Ishmael is the father of the Arabs. If only Abraham and Sarah had waited!

Jacob’s son Joseph was shown in a dream that his brothers (who hated him) would someday come and bow before him. But it was years later and after many tears that finally it happened and not only happened, but happened in a glorious way which resulted in a testimony that would last forever. In the meantime, Joseph didn’t waver, no matter how he was betrayed and sold as a slave to Egypt, and no matter how long he sat in an Egyptian prison for a crime he didn’t commit. No matter what the enemy threw at him, Joseph waited. And the promise came.

Patience and maintaining faith are virtues the Lord values highly. Every believer will be in the position of having to wait after a promise is given. But when the answer comes, it will be greater than what the person asked for.

“Now to him who is able to do
EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THE WE ASK OR THINK…”
Ephesians 3:20

Wait and do not waiver. Do not get tired of praying but continue for as long as it takes. Do not be tempted to give up. Do not be tempted to think God doesn’t care. He may be creating a story behind the scenes that you know nothing about. Wait on him. For as long as it takes.

“And let us not grow weary while doing good,
for in due season we shall reap
IF WE DO NOT LOSE HEART.”
Galatians 6:9

The time may seem long, but the answer will come and that will lead to greater rejoicing than you ever expected.

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
bearing seed for sowing,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
bringing his sheaves with him.”
Psalm 126:5-6