Why Does God Take So Long?

           

image by gerait

Did you ever wonder why God takes so long to answer some of your prayers, while others—mighty few, if you ask me—get answers right away? Me too. 

            According Psalm 138:3, the Lord answered David on the very day he called. “On the day I called, you answered me, you increased my strength of soul” Psalm 138:3 (NRSV).

God’s answer was to increase David’s boldness and strengthen his soul. He didn’t immediately rescue David from his enemies, but the fresh courage he gave David provided an answer in itself. God took away David’s fears so that he could confidently say, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.” 

           

I always want God to fix every problem in my or my loved one’s lives immediately.Heal the disease right now—no more pain or suffering, please. Open a door for a new job today—no more living from paycheck to paycheck, barely making ends meet. Fix the relationships that are broken this minute—make us understand and accept each other and act like adults.

            He rarely comes through that fast. I often say to myself or others, “Why does God take so long?” I generally have to stand fast in faith for days, weeks, even years before I see the changes I want. 

            But he does answer me on the day I call. By offering me his supernatural courage and strength, He makes me bold. He causes me to stand up on the inside, rather than crumpling in defeat. I know he loves me. I know he listens when I call. That assurance gives me the confidence I need to say, with David, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me.”

image by Alexas fotos

            Father, please increase your strength in my soul. Help me believe you’re at work even when it doesn’t look like circumstances are changing for the better. In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Are you standing in faith for something today that makes you wonder, "Why does God take so long?"  How can I agree in prayer with you?

When you don't understand

Do you ever have circumstances in your life that you don't understand? I know, I know, that's a silly question. We all have situations like that.

If you're like me, you find yourself trying to answer questions like these:

• Why did my child rebel when I was raising them according to God's Word? 
• Why did I get sick when I was taking good care of myself?
• Why did my husband lose the best job he's ever had?  

We like to file horrible happenings into neat little cubby holes or tidy file folders in our minds, so we can explain everything. But you and I both know that some things simply can't be categorized. Some things we will never understand.

Can we live with that? Is is okay to say, "I don't understand this, but it's not going to ruin my life or my relationship with God."

Because if we keep trying to figure it out with our limited understanding, we may get stuck in the "bitter and angry" file or the "doubt and despair" file.

Can we create a cubby hole or file folder in our hearts and label it, "Not sure why," then trust the One who gave us life and loves us to die for? Can we tuck those unanswered questions in that file and have the courage and trust to leave them there?

Someday the Lord may reveal to us why Aunt Lois died even though we prayed for her, why our spouse lost his job, or why our best friend deserted us. Or he may not.

But if we refuse to get stuck, if we choose to look to God to take care of us in spite of our unknowns, he will move us forward into the excellent plans he has for us. He will set us free from having to figure everything out. He will give us the grace we need for today.