Have a Great Day Every Day!
God answers our prayers one of three ways: "yes," "no," and "wait." Often however, we interpret his answer as "no" when he is really saying "wait." That points to the importance of patience in praying-which has a bitter taste for the moment, but produces sweet fruit in the end.
Jesus spoke a parable one time in order to show his listeners that they should keep on praying and never lose heart. He said, "There was once a judge who cared nothing for God or man, and in the same town there was a widow who constanly came before him demanding justice against her opponent. For a long time he refused; but in the end he said to himself, 'True, I care nothing for God or man, but this widow is so great a nuisance that I will see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence.' "
Now, of course, Jesus' point was not that God wears out with persistence. Jesus' point was even as he said: "When God's answer seems to be no, we should not lose heart, because he may only be saying wait."
Sometimes God says wait because we are not ready to receive the things we ask for. Sometimes he says wait because the conditions aren't just right. Sometimes he says wait because he wants to show us a better option, and yet he gives us the choice between the two. But whatever the reason, it is always for our own good.
I have the feeling, though, the main reason why God says wait is to teach us patience and trust. When we have to wait on God we learn necessarily dependence in the process of waiting. So don't be like the little girl who, after several hours of fishing, threw her pole down and cried, "I quit." "What's the matter?" her father asked. "Nothing," said the girl. "Except I can't seem to get waited on.
When you make your requests known to God and you can't seem to get waited on, just wait on. When you are patient, the answer is sure to come.
3 comments:
i say AMEN to what you published, Rev. Fr. Mike!!!
everyone should pray unceasingly.
The answer to prayer determines our faith, even when the answer is not what we expected. Sometimes we tend to dictate what we want from God, such that when the answer is long coming, either we lose faith in God or learn patience and complete trust in Him.
From the three answers, mine is more of "NO but here is an alternative". Whatever, my prayers are all answered!
Thanks be to God!
Mike this is a nice publication. When I ask something to our Lord God most of my petitions are answered "Yes" and I keep on thanking Him for those Answers. When He says No I still thank Him as I know there is a good reason why my petition is not answered. I keep on praying, thanking Him, and praising Him and keep on waiting for the right time when God will answer my petitions. God is good all the time and He knows what is best for us. When we pray to others the more God listens and answers our prayers for ourselves, our families, our friends and for others we are praying for.
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