Growing up, I often asked myself impatiently, “How can I keep faith while waiting on God to answer prayers?” I still sometimes reach that point even today-human nature. I thank God even when things become hard and I cannot believe God anymore, He [God] has continually shown me through His word how to wait on His timing.
Only God can see the big picture. He has planned out everything to intertwine perfectly in the end. Part of His plan includes working through our prayers. We pray, yet we doubt He hears us. He has promised, however, to hear His children. Although He hears us, He doesn’t always give the response we expect or the answer on our timetable. Just the end of last week, I got an invitation to attend a job interview which I really needed. When I got the invite, I started praying and prophesying to myself in my mind, remembering Hebrews 11:1 which says, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I even asked my sister Tammy to pray for me as I prepared for the interview. On Monday 29th, I went for the interview and there were only three of us. God showed me favor as I was answering the questions from the panel. As I am still waiting for the response, I still believe God is going to answer my prayers. The Lord reminds me in the book of 2 Peter 3:8 the bible says, “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” His time is not our time.
When waiting on God to answer prayers, we must believe God will answer. Unbelief is the biggest obstacle to overcome in praying and waiting. “But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord” James 1:6–7.
While waiting on God to answer prayers, take stock of your blessings. Are you breathing? Then, rejoice in life! Do you see the blue sky or even a cloudy one? Thank God for the ability to see. Can you hear the sound of the wind blowing through the trees or a child laughing? Praise God for hearing! Turn the wait into a treasure hunt for the blessings that we often take for granted. For remembrance, keep a prayer journal, listing all your prayers with the date of the request. Frequently lift up the requests to God, and record the date you received an answer.
Never forget that answers come in God’s time, not ours. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘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.’” God has promised His own a hopeful future. Rest in God’s faithfulness, He will answer you.