WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN GOD’S ANSWERS TO PRAYERS ARE DELAYED

SCRIPTURE:
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. The Lord is not slow 
in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, 
not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 
(2 Peter 3:8-9)

MEDITATION:
Time is a commodity we can all understand and value.
Time and money are often on opposite sides of a scale.
If we lack money, then we find time to do things for ourselves. 
If we lack time but have money, then we will pay others to do things for us.

There are moments when time seems to speed by at a breakneck speed.
But there are other times when it seems to move at a snail’s pace.
Sometimes it can seem like time is barely moving, 
especially if we are awaiting God’s answer to one of our prayers.

The problem is, 
we want God to answer our prayers on our timetable, and not His.
We are anxious for a quick answer, and we struggle to accept His timing.
Delayed response from God can cause anxieties, 
frustrations and disappointments.
When He doesn’t respond in what we consider to be a reasonable amount 
of time, we often assume He is not going to answer our prayer.

Are our assumptions really fair?
Should our expectations for answered prayers take precedent over God’s plans?
Of course the answer to these two questions is a resounding, “No”.
We will never have the wisdom or perception 
to fully understand God’s purpose in all things.

God may delay at times to teach us (or someone else) 
something He knows is important and will be for our benefit.
As an example, we may be struggling with patience 
and God’s delays teaches us forbearance.

We do know from His Word that He is patient with the lost souls, 
so they will have adequate opportunities to repent and receive eternal life.
That should be reason enough to confirm that when God delays, 
it is for the benefit of those He loves and cares about.
God controls the clock of destiny and in the midst of a confused world, 
His omnipotent hand moves at His pace 
to work out His unchanging plans and purposes.

ACTION:
If you are struggling with waiting on God to answer one of your prayers,
stop looking at His delay negatively 
and start viewing it from a positive viewpoint.
Rather than wringing your hands and staying frustrated or discouraged, 
remember that God’s delays are for your (or someone else’s) benefit.
Try living your day to day life 
as if He in the process of answering your prayer.

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing my prayer requests. I know that 
my prayers do not fall on deaf ears when they are offered up to You, my 
Heavenly Father. Teach me to develop patience so that I can comfortably 
await Your answer, rather than being consumed with anxiety and 
disappointment. Help me to see and understand how Your plan is beneficial 
for me, or those I know. Thank You for knowing the value of not answering 
my requests on my timetable, but on Yours. Thank You for the prayers You 
have already answered.”