Life is a journey filled with highs and lows, triumphs and trials. Throughout this journey, we often find ourselves in situations where we pour our hearts into prayer, seeking answers and solutions to concerns that keep us awake through the night. There are moments when it seems like our prayers go unanswered and we find ourselves waiting in uncertainty, wondering why God hasn’t responded. In these moments, it’s important to remember that “in the waiting, God is still working.”
When we pray, we usually desire swift and clear answers; we pray and expect an immediate response. A need answered, an obstacle removed and we expect it tomorrow because that’s what we think we need. God’s plan often unfolds in His divine timing. His perspective is far greater than ours and He knows what is best for us. Just as a skilled artist meticulously creates a masterpiece, God is at work in the intricate details of our lives, moving the pieces as He sees fit to bring us the “hope and future” that he promises in Jeremiah 29:11. His timing is purposeful.
The waiting period can be challenging, filled with doubts, questions and worries. We grow impatient. We want the answers that we think we need, the solutions that we think He somehow owes us, and the outcomes that we think are the perfect fit for our situations. However, it is in these times that we experience significant spiritual growth. We learn patience. We learn trust. And we learn to be utterly dependent on God. Our faith is tested, refined and strengthened as we wait upon Him. As Isaiah 40:31 reminds us “they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
While we may not see immediate answers to our prayers, it’s essential to recognize that God is actively working behind the scenes. He is orchestrating events, shaping our circumstances, and preparing the way for His perfect plan to unfold. Psalm 18:30 tells us that “as for God, His way is perfect.” Not our way. Not the way that others tell us. His way.
During these moments where we have prayed and feel as though He’s not responding, it’s crucial to hold onto our belief in God’s faithfulness. Remember the times when He has answered your prayers in the past and the countless promises found in the Bible. That you have a hope and a future. That all things will work together for good. That he knows the hairs on your head and knew you before the foundations of the earth. Focus on these when the seeds of doubt start to creep in; when you feel as though you are at rock bottom, when it’s so hard to understand why He would have you wait. Cling to verses like Lamentations 3:22 which reminds us that “the steadfast love of the Lord never fails”. The verse before it (Lamentations 3:21) tells us “Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: The Lord’s unfailing love and mercy still continue, fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise. The Lord is all I have, and so in Him I put my hope.” Don’t let those seeds of doubt shake the knowledge of His love for you.
Surrendering control and accepting God’s timing can bring us a deep sense of peace. It’s an act of faith to release our worries and fears to the One who knows the beginning and the end…and to not take them back and own them once we’ve let those worries and fears go. We can find solace in knowing that God’s plans for us are perfect, even when we don’t understand the here and now.
When we find ourselves in the waiting, it’s an opportunity to trust, grow and experience God’s unfailing love and wisdom. Though we may not receive immediate answers, or even answers that we had hoped for, we can rest assured that “in the waiting, God is working.” His timing is perfect and His plan for our lives is far greater than we could ever imagine.
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