The Long Wait

The other day I got caught in a traffic jam – a really bad one. It took 3 hours to get to where I usually get to in 40 minutes, and to make matters worse, because I was late for my meeting, I had to start the journey back via a longer route. I was tired, hungry, and disoriented, and when I saw a thick grey cloud form on the horizon, stressed!! The trip back took so long that I barely made it home in time. Remember- this is a trip that usually takes 1 hour on a really bad day. The trip back took 3 hours.

What a wasted day!

As I sat in the 4^th matatu of the day, I started thinking about how sometimes we wait on God for things and they just don’t happen when we want them to. Have you ever prayed for something and then claimed a verse like the ones below, expecting an almost immediate answer?

John 14:14 “Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!” (NLT)

Matthew 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (NIV)

Ask. Receive. Those should go together, right? Hmm…

Well, I really wanted to get to that meeting that day. I wanted to meet these two wonderful ladies who I had never met before. I needed that break. But instead, I got a 6-hour tour of Nairobi and Kiambu counties. I guess God had other plans!

Back to my question. Have you ever had to wait for an answer for a long, long time with no hope in sight? What do you do?

Remember that God knows what you need.

Yes, He really does know what you need. He knew even before you asked. God however requires you to ask. Have you ever seen how a baby asks his mom for milk? He asks with complete faith, knowing that mom will do what she can to get him that milk. It’s the same with God. We ask Him for what we need knowing and believing that He loves to meet our needs and that He hears our prayers and delights in them.

It’s not easy to remember this when you are desperate, but it’s the truth. God knows you better than you know yourself, and He will give you what you need at just the right time. It could take 6 minutes, 6 hours, or 6 years, but God, in His faithfulness, will work things out right on time.

Matthew 7: 9-10 ^“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 

Remember that you can trust God.

Yes, dear friend, you can trust God. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. He does not pick names out of a hat or flip a coin to decide who to bless. God always acts out of love for us, even when we don’t understand why He is taking so long to grant us what we ask for.

Hannah trusted God. Even after being taunted for years by her co-wife, she trusted God. She knew that her prayers were not in vain and that God would grant her what she had asked. Hannah finally got her desire fulfilled and she gave birth to a son. I can’t even imagine what she had been through before God blessed her. But guess what – she never lost hope.

Are you finding it hard to trust God? You’re in good company! Many of us find it hard to trust in someone we have never seen! I would however encourage you to continue trusting in Him because He always answers our prayers. It may take 6 minutes, 6 hours, or 6 years, but if it is God’s will, He will grant your desires.

Remember that God is right there with you as you wait.

That’s right. He is right beside you as you wait. You are not waiting on your own. Also, because God is with you, He understands everything you are going through. You are not alone!

So, if God is with you, why not develop a deeper relationship with Him as you wait for Him to answer you? Read your Bible. Pray. Seek His face. Get to know Him better. You may find that by the time God answers your prayer, you will have received an even greater gift – a closer relationship with Him.

Wait- what happens if you are bitter with God during the waiting season? What if you are angry with Him for making you wait so long? Well, tell Him what you are feeling. Have a candid chat with your Father. God understands us so much more than we can imagine, and He knows what we are going through as we wait. Pour out your heart to the Lord and let Him replace those feelings with peace and joy. Let Him embrace you with His love. Let Him carry you on days when you feel you can’t hold yourself up. Let God be there for you.

Nobody likes waiting. Nobody likes praying over and over for the same thing. Nobody likes seeing other people having their prayers answered while they are still waiting. If God is with you during the wait, however, it becomes easier.

Back to my long trip. After being on the road for 4 and a half hours, a passenger got into the matatu and declared that the traffic jam had been sorted out and the road was open. For a few seconds, I felt cheated! I wanted to scream! I however continued sitting quietly and patiently, because I knew that God had everything in control. I had peace. I knew He was right there with me.

God hasn’t forgotten what you need. Most importantly, He has not forgotten you. He loves you. Wait for His perfect timing.

Isaiah 40:31 “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” (NLT)

Psalm 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!” (ESV)