“And therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him.” (Isaiah 30:18)
There is not a person who has lived and lives now who hasn’t had to wait for the Lord’s answer to a prayer. There are some who say that God sometimes says, “No” to our petition. This is one of those discussions that I don’t think has been resolved for us. Why is it that we don’t see the answers to some of our prayers? Why do some delay and some do not?
Isaiah in the Scripture above says that the Lord waits to show us His unmerited favor. He is exalted then when He does have mercy on us and answers our petitions. Answered prayer is God’s mercy shown to us. We don’t deserve any favor, but God chooses to show His mercy by answering our petition. “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.” (Romans 9:16)
Now, there are promises in God’s Word. Some are promises brought by the New Covenant in Jesus. These are sure for us. There is no need to petition the Lord for these promises. But in prayer we should praise God for His mercy and love in providing these promises. Our attitude should be one of thankfulness and gratitude for the Lord’s mercy shown us in His promise because His promises are “yea and amen.” “For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” (2Corinthians 1:20) But even His promises may delay, but the delay is waiting on God's perfect time because God’s promises never fail. He is faithful to perform His promises to us. “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10:23)
Paul described how Abraham had faith and believed God’s promise to him even though he and Sarah were beyond the age of parenthood. And even more, they were both past the ability to conceive and have children. But Paul writes that “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.” (Romans 4:20-21) Abraham believed God’s promise for 25 years. Yes! Some of His promises will come to us, maybe even after our death, but the promise you have been believing for and standing in faith for will come.
But how about those petitions that are not in any promise. Those depend on God’s mercy. We cannot bargain with God for them, although I’m sure some do. People make all kinds of promises and vows to God, but when they get what they want, they forget their vow. “When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for He hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.” (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5) It’s a fool who does this, one without understanding, void of wisdom and without God. And there are also those who have made a vow to the Lord and kept it, honoring God and drawing nearer to Him. For me, I don’t want anything God doesn’t want me to have. There have been instances where the Lord does answer a prayer that gives us something that He doesn’t want for us. In those instances, the person has begged God for something that is not in His Will. And after they have received it, they understand why God didn’t want them to have it because it only brought them misery and hurt. God has the best for us. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He sees the end from the beginning. In those instances where we are asking God for something that is not promised to us, we should pray, “If it be Your Will.” There’s a saying in the world, “be careful what you wish for.” I say to you, “be careful what you pray for.”
Like Abraham believed for the promise, we must wait for the promise. The promise is sure. Wait on God’s mercy, His answer. Paul in writing to the Hebrews who had endured much persecution, encourages them not to give up. “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” (Hebrews 10:36) And that is our answer to our prayer. Do God’s Will. Pray and believe in patience, knowing His promises are assured. And depend on God’s mercy because He knows what is best for us.
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