The Blessing Is on the Way

As we begin this new year, are any of you still waiting for a blessing you hoped would come in 2011—or even earlier? Are you waiting for an answer to prayer you felt certain would have unfolded by now? If so, don’t feel alone. I’m waiting, too.

It’s hard when God’s answers to our desires and dreams are “no” or “wait”. As we wait for the blessing to come, questions can niggle at our minds. Does God hear my prayers? Why doesn’t He answer? Doesn’t He even care about me? Is He punishing me for something? We may even feel like He’s forgotten us.

I won’t presume to explain why God’s answers are what they are in your life or mine, but we’re all acquainted with the growth that can take place in our characters as we learn to wait on Him and trust Him in every circumstance.

However, knowing growth will come doesn’t necessarily make the wait any easier, does it? Maybe an example from scripture about a delayed answer could provide some encouragement or fresh insight as to why we may have to wait at times.

In the tenth chapter of Daniel, we read that God had given Daniel a revelation, but Daniel didn’t understand it. He prayed and mourned for three weeks, asking God to give him understanding of the vision. At the end of the three weeks, Daniel had another vision of a man, a messenger from God (an angel or possibly even Jesus), who came to give him God’s answer.

The man told Daniel, “Since the first day . . . your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” (10:12) He went on to tell him that a demon had resisted him for twenty-one days. One of the chief angels came to help him, though, and the man was now there to give Daniel the understanding he sought from God.

From this passage we see that sometimes delays to our prayers happen because of struggles and battles going on in the spiritual realm. This may not be the reason for your current season of waiting on God, but it could be a possibility.

Whatever the reason you find yourself in God’s waiting room, take heart. He hasn’t forgotten you. He hears you. And the answer—the blessing—is on the way.

“‘As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given . . .’” Daniel 9:23a

*Flickr photo by the hills are alive, Creative Commons License

Comments

  1. Laura Drumb says

    What a blessing this is for me today! We are still waiting on an answer to our fervent prayers for Gary & what a joy to be reminded that God IS working on this behind the scenes, has not forgotten, is not ignoring us! He hears our cries & is working on the perfect timing for His answer to be given. Man, I needed that right now – thanks for sharing, Cheryl!

  2. Laura, so very happy that this post encouraged you when you needed it. Thanks for letting me know. Praying for you and Gary right now!

  3. I like your waiting room analogy.

  4. Thanks, Janice. I’ve heard the phrase “God’s waiting room” in other places and thought it was just right for this particular post.

  5. Waiting and waiting and waiting. . . meanwhile, deciding that I am spoiled and who am I to want more? Then, thinking “I am a daughter of The One And Only High God and doesn’t that count for something here?” Then, concluding once again that I am spoiled. Sigh.

  6. Waiting is not an easy business, is it, Jana? Guess that’s when we develop our trust muscles, though. However, sometimes we just get tired of learning lessons from our experiences. Guess that’s when perseverance comes into play. That’s right — another lesson to learn! :)

  7. Profoundly true and beautifully written. Thank you for this strong encouragement!

    peace`elaine

  8. You’re welcome, Elaine. And thank YOU for your encouraging words!

  9. Such a good word. We mortals look at our watches and calendars as though God uses those same devices. I often remind myself that in His realm, no such things exist. I can begin today to thank Him for what He’s already done even though, by my calculations, it hasn’t yet happened.

    But it will …

    Blessings,
    Kathleen

  10. Hope this is a blessed year for you, Cheryl!

  11. Love this post Cheryl, and the idea of “God’s waiting room.” I always believe God answers prayer in His own good time, and in His own good way. Thanks for these lovely words of encouragement about the power of prayer.

  12. Kathleen, Ashley, and Mairead — thanks so much for your encouraging words and wishes. You are a blessing to me!

  13. You always seem to pass on just the right words of encouragement! We are most definitely waiting, but I know that God is there for the immense “calm” I feel through the process. Doesn’t make me any less antsy, but at least I can feel His presence. :)

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