Day
after day for years Harry shared with the Lord his concern for his son-in-law
John who had turned away from God. But then Harry died. A few months later,
John turned back to God. When his mother-in-law Marsha told him that Harry had
been praying for him every day, John replied, “I waited too long.” But Marsha
joyfully shared: “The Lord is still answering the prayers Harry prayed during
his earthly life.”
Harry’s
story is an encouragement to us who pray and wait. He continued “steadfastly in
prayer” and waited patiently (Rom. 12:12).
The
author of Psalm 130 experienced waiting in prayer. He said, “I wait for the
Lord, my soul waits” (v.5). He found hope in God because he knew that “with the
Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption” (v.7).
Author
Samuel Enyia wrote about God’s timing: “God does not depend on our time. Our
time is chronological and linear but God . . . is timeless. He will act at the
fullness of His time. Our prayer . . . may not necessarily rush God into
action, but . . . places us before Him in fellowship.”
What a privilege we have to fellowship with God in prayer and to wait for the answer in the fullness of His time.
God may delay our request, but He will never disappoint our trust. (RBC)
