Still waiting? You’re in good company

Living Life Minute by Minute

I don’t know about you, but I get tired of waiting. For better or worse, we live in a world of the instant. Instant replies, instant messaging, instant grits. Amazon Prime gives us almost instant delivery.

God, however, is not an instant God. If you’ve been a Christian for longer than a minute you know that His sense of time is definitely different than ours (2 Peter 3:9, among others)!

I know that it sometimes feels like God is punishing us or trying to make some grand point when we have to wait. And it’s hard. I’ve been waiting for over two years for something that I finally see coming together now. Am I glad I waited obediently? Absolutely. Was it easy? Heck, no!

Daniel Had to Wait

I was reading in the book of Daniel this week and came across something I’ve read before but only now stopped to ponder. We’re going to jump in at Daniel 10.

Daniel has been praying for his people. He’s fasted and prayed to understand a vision God gave him. He was mourning his lack of ability to understand, especially given his previous experiences interpreting visions so well. As he’s praying, a hand touches him. The angel says,

“Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words.

But the prince of the kingdom of Persia (some satanic figure) withstood me for twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes (angels), came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia.

Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to may days yet to come.” (Daniel 10:10-14 NKJV)

Help Was Delayed

Did you catch it? Daniel was praying and fasting and mourning for 21 days. The exact amount of time satan’s minions held the angel off from reaching Daniel. The angel was waylaid.

I don’t think we really consider that when we’re waiting. God may very well have sent an angel, heavenly or an earthly minister, to answer us, but things happen. There are details they must attend to first.

When I ponder this, I’m in awe. To think that God is answering but the messengers with his answers are delayed for some reason makes me see a much bigger picture than my little prayer. God is working things out in his time. Not sure about that? Read Ecclesiastes. Even Jesus prayed for God’s will in His time (Mark 14:32-40).

Waiting for God to Heal Marriage?

Waiting for God to heal your marriage? Bring your kids back to you? Smooth the ruffled feathers with a parent?

No matter what you are waiting for, God hears you. He knows your need. And he has an answer for you. We just need to wait.

So while you are waiting, continue to pray. Trust that God will answer your prayer when the time is right. ❤️

With love in the waiting,