When I pray, I would like God to answer me immediately. I would really appreciate visitation by a messenger of God to tell me that my prayer was heard and what God’s response will be. That has not happened yet. Sometimes, in His goodness and perfect timing, God delays in answering. This time of silence on God’s part can lead to confusion on my part. The Psalmist gives a good illustration in Psalm 77, verses 7-9 where he gives 6 statements which illustrate the potential confusion of thought in such situations.
- Will the Lord cast off (reject me) forever? When God doesn’t answer right away, I can mistakenly believe He has forgotten me. This is a mistake. Consider what God says in Isaiah 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.” Just because God delays in answering, does not mean He has forgotten me. I must remember His heart for me as written down for me in His word.
- Will He be favorable no more? This is similar. Because God has delayed, does it mean He will never do anything for me again? Of course not. God’s purposes towards me are all good.
- Has His mercy ceased forever? The God of all mercy cannot change His character. His mercy continues towards me. It is a mistake to think He has suddenly changed His nature.
- Has His promise failed forevermore? The promises of God are sure. They will not fail. As Paul tells us in Romans 3:4, “let God be true but every man a liar.” Surely if God has promised to hear me when I call, He will answer.
- Has God forgotten to be gracious? As with all of the confused thinking that results from unanswered prayer, this seems almost silly. How would God forget to be gracious? It is His nature, and that nature, the Bible teaches us, is unchangeable. In Hebrews 13:8, we read, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
- Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies? The final example of confused thinking resulting when our prayers are not answered right away by God is like the others. God is merciful. It is part of His unchanging nature.
In our finite thinking, we quickly jump to some ridiculous conclusions when God doesn’t answer our prayers immediately. We will learn in the next post how to cure or treat this confused thinking by countering it with what we know about God.
As you continue steadfastly in prayer, consider whether your thinking has gotten confused. Remember these things about God:
- He is always the same. He never changes. Heb. 13:8.
- His thoughts towards you are for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer. 29:11
- If you seek God with all your heart, He will be found by you. Jer. 29:13
- Nothing can separate you from the love of Christ. Rom. 8:39
- His mercies are new every morning and great is His faithfulness. Lam. 3:23
Rooted and Grounded 