Someone taught me when I first became a Christian that God answers prayers in three ways: "yes", "no" and "wait". I've learnt to trust him when God says "no". I've had God say "no" to my prayers and then gloriously demonstrate how his grace was abundantly sufficient despite my fears. Now, what I really struggle with is when God says "wait". I have to confess that I love instant gratification. I want to know straight away how God is going to work out his will in a situation. I know that God has a plan... I just want to be in on it too! Just like Adam and Eve in the garden, my sinful heart yearns to be like God, to know what God knows. But God keeps patiently reminding me: His priorities are different from mine. My priorities are often my own comfort. I want to know what will happen in the end so that I can stop wrestling with the discomfort of not knowing. But God's priority is always his glory. And often to demonstrate his glory, he takes time to transform my heart and the hearts of the those I am praying for. Heart transformation always takes time and that's why God sometimes says "wait". God is not glorified just by the outcome, but by the story in between. As we keep walking in obedience and persevering in prayer, we also glorify God by trusting him, especially when we don't know the outcome. Will you pray with me this week that God will fulfil in us what Paul exhorts the Roman church: "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." (Romans 12:12) Let us pray that we would persevere in prayer and wait not just for the circumstances to change but also for hearts to be transformed.
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