Another problem comes when we
“claim” answers to prayer that He hasn’t given us. And I think we need to not be claiming
specific answers or blessings as much as “instructions” or “help along the
way.” (We definitely need to ask for
what we want and need, with thanksgiving, according to Philippians 4:6-7. But it says nothing of claiming a particular
answer. We ask. God answers.)
Sometimes, the problem is just that
we are focused on the wrong thing. We
are focused on the end when we should be focused on the journey. We are asking for what we want instead of
seeking what He wants for us. We are
waiting for a particular answer instead of accepting the one that God gave.
We cannot expect Him to give us
whatever we ask for, if we are asking for things that He has not promised in
His Word or things that are not a part of His Will for us. But if we ask for the things that are His
Will and things that He has promised us in the Bible (like wisdom and peace and
forgiveness), we can expect Him to give us those things.
And the Bible is full of promises to
guide us and help us on our journey through life. We should look for and cling to those, not to
what we think He should give us. We need
to be less about leading and demanding and more about following and
submitting! And we need to remember that
God doesn’t often reveal His answers ahead of time, no matter how much we
plead. Because it’s the journey and the
struggle that build godly character.
If He’s making us wait, there are
reasons. Sometimes it’s that there are
issues inside of us that we need to discover and work through. Sometimes it’s to help us go deeper or higher
in our walk with Him. Sometimes it’s
that we are unknowingly blocking Him by our own sins or desires. Sometimes it’s that our desires need to
change because we are asking for the wrong things. And sometimes it’s just because He’s working
on the answer, but it’s not ready yet.
(And sometimes, like in Daniel
10:12-13,
it’s because of the heavenly battle that is going on. Daniel had to wait three weeks for his
answer. Yet, it’s important to note that
what he was waiting for was godly wisdom and knowledge, not just something he
wanted for selfish purposes. And while
he was waiting, he humbled himself.)
But we are hasty. We are impatient. And we think everything hinges on us: on our
prayers, our strength, our resourcefulness, and our faith. And so we get discouraged with ourselves, our
faith, and Him if we have to wait too long.
We feel that we let ourselves down, that we let Him down, and that He
let us down. All because our prayers
“didn’t work.” But it shouldn’t be this
way. Our “faith” should not hinge on how
and when God chooses to answer.
I should not be limiting God by my
expectations and putting parameters around Him and how He works in my
life. I cannot determine how He will
answer. I cannot know how He should
answer. And so I should not be overly
focused on “the answer.” I should be
focused more on how I am walking with Him on this journey through life, while
still pouring out my heart and my desires to Him in transparent, humble
honesty, like Jesus did. This keeps my
heart open to Him.
