Waiting isn’t wasted time. It’s time for faith to mature and teach us to hang onto God in a new way.

Ever asked God for an answer, a healing, or a rescue from difficulties and to this point haven’t gotten an answer from Him? Maybe not so much as a “Got your message and will get back to you.” And then silence and the strong feeling that nothing is happening!

We have been given the right of asking for and expecting to receive help from God. Just look at three of many, many promises from God. “And call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” Psalm 50:15 ESV“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 37:14 ESV “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 ESV

A quick look through the first 20 chapters of Psalms lets us know why David prayed so much. He enumerated the following: I am weak … heal me, for my body is sick … I am upset and disturbed … my mind is filled with apprehension and gloom … I am worn out with pain… death bound me with chains … floods of ungodliness mounted a massive attack against me. And then this question: How long must I be hiding daily anguish in my heart? (all quotes taken from The Living Bible)

That’s where the Psalmist was in his painful analysis of the needs in his life. But there was more to David’s life than the ability to tell it like it is. He also knew there was something he must do to change the story from “This Is How It Is” to “This Is How It Will Change.”

Here is what David had proven to be true: “The very day I call for help, the tide of the battle turns. My enemies flee! This one thing I know: God is for me!” Psalm 56:9 TLB 

In every major battle in the history of the world, there was a deciding point when the outcome was determined. The tide of the battle had turned. The war still persisted, but there was no question who would come out the winner.

Our cloudiness comes from the fact that we can’t physically see what God is doing as He prepares to give us the victory. There are critical things being done in the heavenlies which we don’t see, and so we wait… that’s called ‘faith.’ And as we exercise faith, we are proclaiming to God that we know something is happening out of sight that wouldn’t be happening if we weren’t praying!

So keep praying!

Part 2 of this short series will discuss how suddenly God can move when the answer is ready to be revealed.