“Delays are meant for us to take the time for intimacy with Jesus.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – January 10, 2025
Therefore will the Lord wait that he may be gracious unto you. Isaiah 30:18
Delays are a normal part of life. Flight delays. Traffic delays. Waiting in lines. Workplace or task delays. Health-related delays. Technology or systems failures. We can learn much about ourselves and how we respond when experiencing delays. Patient or impatient? A complainer or a creative? Angry or emphatic? Greedy or generous? Delays to answered prayers can be a common occurrence as well. Sometimes, a prayer offered up in real-time takes a long time to be answered. So, why are prayers delayed? Is the Creator of the universe preoccupied with other issues? No. Is our God of all comfort being insensitive by not answering immediately? No. Then why the delay? Why not answer right away? Well, we can be assured that whatever the Lord’s timing is in answering our prayers is what’s best for us. God’s delays can show us His ways.
Waiting on the Lord to answer prayers can be challenging, but it is divinely designed to be a time of growth and strengthening. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, “Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength.” Waiting refines our character, teaching us patience, trust, and perseverance. It draws us closer to God as we depend on His timing, not our own. When delayed, the Spirit can soften and prepare our hearts for what He has planned, building faith and aligning our desires with His will. It’s an opportunity to grow in humility, realizing that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). Trust that waiting is not wasted; God’s timing is perfect, and His answers exceed what we can imagine. Delays are meant for us to take the time for intimacy with Jesus.
Worship grows sweeter when we praise the Lord for who He is— faithful, loving, and sovereign, and not what we can gain from Him. “Each time, before you intercede, be quiet first, and worship God in His glory…” is attributed to Andrew Murray, the renowned South African pastor and author of his classic book, With Christ in the School of Prayer. When our praise precedes our prayers, we are warmed up to exercise our intercessions with our heavenly Father. Delays in answered prayer remind us that the purpose of prayer is to engage the heart of God in love.
The apostle Paul prayed three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. However, as far as we know, this spiritual giant’s prayer for relief from physical suffering was delayed until his death. Your delayed answer to prayer may mean you experience the riches of God’s grace in an all-sufficient way. Your pain may not disappear, but your peace, comfort, and joy in Jesus will soothe and satisfy your soul. A fragile, failing body is set free by a grace-filled, peaceful soul.
A delay in answered prayer is also a way for God to guarantee He gets the glory! When you remain steadfast in faith, people see the evidence of His sustaining grace in your life. Waiting often shifts the focus from your ability to His power. When His answer finally comes, it’s clear that it wasn’t your timing or effort but His divine provision magnifying His glory. Additionally, waiting deepens your reliance on Him, shaping a heart of gratitude and generosity. Through your perseverance, others are inspired to trust Him, and He is exalted as the true source of hope and joy. Your answered prayers may be delayed, if so, don’t delay in being loved by your wise Father, caring Son, and comforting Spirit that they may be gracious to you. Keep on praying!
Prayer
Lord, when my prayers remain unanswered, help me trust Your timing and wisdom. Strengthen my faith, calm my heart, and remind me that Your plans are always good and perfect. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Application
What prayer of yours is being delayed? How or where is Jesus inviting you to experience Him?
Related Reading
Isaiah 40:31; Psalm 27:14; Lamentations 3:25; Micah 7:7
Worship Resource
Crowder: Somebody Prayed
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