“My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’” Psalm 42:10 (NIV)
“Why is God silent? Why won’t He intervene and do something to change this situation?”
Sound familiar? There are so many times we may wonder where God has gone. We’ve asked Him to do something, yet we wait and wait; and nothing for what seems like so long.
Daniel, a young man of noble birth, a captive in Babylon, was greatly concerned for the future of his people. He prayed faithfully for twenty-one days; then an angel of the Lord came to him. He prayed three full weeks, never giving up…faithfully. How soon do you get frustrated and want to give up? Assume the answer is no and move on? Maybe you keep it up a couple of days, a week; but three full weeks? What if it had been longer? It could’ve been you know. Some of us have been trying to stay faithful for years.
There are times when I wonder if in my waiting, in my impatience, I made a decision out of frustration rather than faith. Or maybe, I was too hesitant to step into what God had for me. We can pray for an answer – for God to do something; but sometimes we need to step out in faith first.
We never know the day or hour God will answer the prayer we pray with the deepest longing for a desired outcome. When the answer finally comes, we look back and can think it really wasn’t so long but in the middle of it all, it feels like forever. We can wonder why we ever doubted.
When a messenger finally comes with the answer to Daniel’s prayer, he fills Daniel in on what’s been going on.
“Then he continued, ‘Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.’” Daniel 10:12 (NIV)
While Daniel prayed and fasted, the Prince of the Persian kingdom resisted the angel. There is a battle going on around us all the time. We don’t always know what other circumstances are holding up our answer. Others decisions and actions affect our circumstances as well. We can’t see it and we don’t understand it but we can often feel and see the results.
The message of hope in this passage is since the first day Daniel set his mind to gain understanding and humble himself, his words were heard. From the very first moment he turned to God in his situation, God heard him and began to work. While we may feel alone in the battle with nothing to do but wait, God hears us. He is responding in ways we don’t see and don’t understand. When we set our mind to gain understanding, it means we want to understand God’s plan, not our own. When we humble ourselves, we give up our will for His.
What do you have your mind set on? Is your attitude one of humility or pride? Are you able to trust in and wait on the Lord knowing He is at work?
Something to Consider…
Are you waiting on God to answer a long felt prayer? Is He asking you to step out in faith to set your answer in motion? When praying, choose to remain faithful, seek God’s understanding of the situation and humble yourself to His will.
Where is your God? Remember, He is with you always, He hears you and He is at work in ways you can’t comprehend.
LYF Moments 
My favorite LYF devotional so far. It spoke to me where I often live. Thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks, Denise! I’m glad it was an encouragement. I often need to be reminded that even though I don’t know what’s going on, God does!
Mari, Very encouraging devotional!
God’s timing is much better that ours. Waiting on the Lord for His perfect timing grows our faith.
Karen
Thanks you for your encouragement, Karen!
Love this Mari!! It’s so true that we so often only see a portion of what God is doing in our situation. Our faith is strengthened by resting in the peace that God sees the whole picture…and He’s working in ways that are incredible! Sometimes God allows us a peek into His workings…and there lays the blessing :o)
Mary, The small glipses are so encouraging and definitely blessings! We often look for the “big” answer but sometimes it’s the small, quiet workings we need to be aware of. We can’t see what He is doing if we take our eyes off Him.
Perfect timing again! Just when I am about to put mt own plan in action (because of coarse I am inpatient and I believe that I am ready…already!) God reminds me that He has the master plan all plotted out. Thanks Mari! and oh by the way you totally rock at this blog writing thing you got going on girlfriend.
Cheryl, Praying for you that whether God wants you waiting on Him a little longer or stepping out in faith to set things in motion, that it’s all in step with the Spirit’s promptings. I am thrilled that anything I may write would be in line with God’s will, Word and desire for you. His truth is beautiful when we are open to it!