Delay is Not Denial

As you learn to pray and fast during Lent, one of the hardest lessons is learning how to live with a delayed response to prayer. Do we accept delays as God’s timing? 

From an Africa Study Bible proverbs and stories note: 

A father wanted to offer his two sons special gifts. He told them to come to the farm and wait for him by a tree where he had hidden his will. He climbed the tree and waited for them. But he soon fell asleep and only woke up after many hours when he heard shouting below. One of the boys had lost patience and was raining insults on his father for delaying. The other insisted that their father loved them and surely would keep his promise. But he could not convince his brother, who thereafter left. Then the father came down and handed all the property to the son who had waited patiently.

Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks. Like the patient son under the tree, Daniel did not give up. At last a messenger from God explained to Daniel the reason why the answer to his prayer had been delayed, and then he gave God’s answer to Daniel. 

Daniel’s story reminds us that we have a powerful enemy trying to thwart our efforts and obstruct God’s answers. But no matter what spiritual forces are involved in our area, our God is Lord of all. 

Daniel did not necessarily know these forces existed, and he did not know why the angel was delayed—but he kept on praying. This reveals to us what our attitude should be when we are fasting and praying. Our job is to remain faithful in prayer and continue to believe God while He fights for us in the heavenly realm.

Today:

In our fast-paced world of instant gratification, we often struggle when God takes longer than we expect to answer our prayers. Are there some things you have prayed about for many years without change? Have you grown tired, given up, or even become angry at God? Talk to God about them again today and trust that the answer is on the way.