I have so many years-long-awaited prayers where I am deeply burdened for others, desperately wanting them to find Jesus, experience His deliverance and healing, wanting them to repent and turn from their ways that are literally bringing them and many others needless harm.
Additionally, in my work with my podcast, my task is to stay aware of the evils in the world, learn of God’s promises and His commission for His children to partner with Him to rectify sin and evil, then encourage others to take up their rightful place in God’s plan to see His Kingdom will done on earth as it is in heaven. I started my podcast in 2020 in response to the tremendous world turmoil evident since 2016. My heart is heavy for the tremendous advancement of evil and the seemingly lack of correction to date.
During my time of prayer journaling today, I found myself writing “while I am expecting fulfillment of Your promises by faith, I wait in pain.” Seeing those words penned on paper, caused me to stop and reflect.
I know I am far from the only one who feels this way at this time. I am certain there are hundreds of thousands in the world who are experiencing the same dichotomy–we are trusting God for all His promises while we suffer in pain until the promises are fulfilled. This seems to be the unrelenting reality for all genuine Christian Believers living in this fallen world.
So I come to the Lord quite emotionally raw today and ask, “When Lord? When will we see our prayers answered in the powerful, exponential way we long for?” When is a foolish question with God. If He told us when, we would operate in knowledge rather than faith. Instead, as so beautifully brought out in “The Chosen” series, God reassures us with one word: soon. God intentionally doesn’t tell us when because knowledge allows us to operate apart from God; faith demands we operate wholly connected to God.
To persevere during these times of angst, waiting and longing for answers to our prayers, I turn to Scripture, especially Luke chapter 11 which records the teachings of Jesus about the essential component of persistency in prayer. In verses 1-4 Jesus started by providing a model prayer, known as The Lord’s Prayer but in reality is “The Disciple’s Prayer.” Jesus demonstrates, proper prayer uniquely binds all Christ’s followers together in a community of worship and intercession that acknowledges God as the Father of all who believe.
In verses 5-10 Jesus demonstrates the importance of boldly asking any time day or night for whatever we need, and the importance of continuing to ask until we receive what we ask for (see also Luke 18:1) believing God is far more willing and gracious than any human neighbor. Jesus makes clear everyone who asks will be answered by God, because the mere act of asking demonstrates willing submission to God through faith in Jesus who is the Hope for all who believe.
In verses 11-13, Jesus makes clear by contrast how much greater our Heavenly Father is than any earthly father, noting earthly fathers never dupe their children by giving them something that could harm instead of benefit them. He then reasons, beyond our natural needs, God will generously give the Holy Spirit who is the Comfort and Power for all who believe.
Some of our prayers will be answered in our lifetime, other prayers will not. In fact we must understand, some prayers will be answered for us to personally experience, others will be answered in future generations, and still others won’t be realized until granted we enter heaven. Regardless, just as God promises, in 2 Corinthians 1:20 “For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (italics added). As reinforced in 1 John 5:14-15, we must ask for that which is consistent with God’s will, ask for the promises that are in Him, in order to be confident our prayers will be answered.
Knowing God’s will is easy, when it is His will we desire.
God has revealed His will for our daily lives on earth in everything Christ demonstrated through His life, death and resurrection,
as recorded in the Bible.
There are some personal prayers I have asked God to allow me to see granted in my lifetime–the salvation, healing, deliverance of loved ones for example. Yet, knowing the answer to these prayers are dependent upon the free-will choices of others, I have to hold the desire to personally see these prayers answered loosely. Other prayers I long to see answered in my lifetime, such as God clearing evil governments from corrupt leaders, must also be understood to be fulfilled over extended periods of time, possibly after my life on earth. Regardless, I have every reason to believe ALL my prayers WILL be answered.
How long did God’s people wait until the fulfillment of God’s promised Deliverer from Egyptian Slavery? Approximately 430 years.
How long did God’s people wait until the fulfillment of God’s promised Deliverer for the World? Approximately 4000 years.
So, like all of humanity, I must wait in faith, knowing even though I suffer pain all my prayers will be answered–some during my life and other afterward. God is good. All the time, God is good.
Expecting you too are heavy-hearted over the long awaited answer to prayers, I hope this perspective has helped encourage you. I wrote out of my personal need, for both of us, with the help of the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter in all our sufferings. I’d love to hear from you to know how my work is of even the slightest help to you. Please use the Contact page on my web site or the email address.
For those who were alive when Christ dwelt on earth, the promised came in their lifetime. For all the others, before His advent and following His death and resurrection, it was not fulfilled in their life time. Regardless, God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises is certain.
After reflecting a bit, I realized God has been experiencing this very same dichotomy since the original fall of humanity.
Your privacy is always respected and protected.