What happens when you want God to do – or undo – something?
All is well when our prayers our answered expeditiously. But when we repeatedly get down on our knees to petition, even beg God to answer our requests – and nothing changes, we begin to wonder.
Why isn’t He granting our fervent wishes? (Hello, Lord…are you even hearing me?)
You would think we were in line at the fast food drive-through, the way we expect immediate results. We place our order – and there it appears.
In our culture of instant gratification, biding our time is not a strong suit. I think back to our patients on our mission trips who get in line at 2:00 am. By the time many of them are finally seen at the clinic, it can be 9 or 10 hours later.
No coffee shops with WiFi to pass the time in, either. If they’re lucky, they will have a place to sit for a while. And most of them go without food or drink for all those hours.
Practically unheard of here.
I have short and long-term prayer requests. Those with staying power are mostly ones that have to do with my self-improvement projects that deconstruct, sometimes repeatedly.
Others that remain at the top of my list are situational. (Lord, can’t you please please please make that happen?)
God speaks to me through music…and He does have a sense of humor. The other day I was on the treadmill enjoying praise music as I plodded along. God made His point when my iPod battery died in the middle of While I’m Waiting by John Waller.
Okay, Lord…I get it.
If you click on the link above to hear this powerful song, it may speak to you as well.
What surfaces for me is: 1. God is in control, 2. I can’t rush Him, 3. Perhaps if I look more closely, there are still aspects of a situation He wants me to see – or something I need to change, 4. Most likely, He is already working behind the scenes and/or within me or others to accomplish His purposes, and 5. I should rest in confidence for the duration.
And that confidence doesn’t mean I am sure God will grant my every request. It means that I know He is with me – and, in spite of how things may seem, He has my best interests at heart.
Rising to the challenge of faithful anticipation has been added to my short list.
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. ~Psalm 27:14
beWARM 
Good one! Yes, sometimes we are all too impatient to see results when we need to rest and know that things are in the works:)
Much love,
Abs
Oh, my favorite posting!!!
Confidence in Him. Our gratification culture. Lack of gratitude.
At this point I am aware of some of the depths of my ‘block-headedness’. No wonder at times I’ve been clobbered–
as a last resort to make me bend to his will…;)
Am I being overcome with gratitude moment by moment? My pastor says, if not, then you are heading down the wrong path, step-by-step…
Thank you, Toni.