The Journey of PrayerSample

Have you ever prayed and wondered, "Why isn't God answering me?" Or maybe you're stuck in a season of waiting, questioning if He's even listening to your prayers. I want to begin by sharing this important truth: God doesn't always tell us when He will answer our prayers, but He promises that He will (see Matthew 7:7-8).

Now, let's explore the practical ways in which God answers our prayers. The first way is instantaneously. This is what most of us want when we pray. And yes, this does happen! There have been countless times when I've asked God to reveal something specific, and He showed me through His Word, a friend's message, or a sermon immediately after asking him.

It makes me think of the time my son was having a severe allergic reaction, and his oxygen levels were dropping dangerously low. I called a friend to pray with me as I stood in the hospital. And, as she was praying, I watched as his oxygen levels began to increase from 80 all the way up to 100. I believe that these more immediate answers can also be considered miracles as they reveal God's power in our everyday lives.

We see this pattern in Scripture, too. In Acts 16:25-26, "Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God... Suddenly there was a great earthquake... and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." This is a powerful example of an immediate divine response.

However, not all prayers receive instant answers, which leads us to the second way God responds—soon. This is when God answers our prayers, but with a slight delay.

Daniel 10:12-13 shows us this type of answer: "From the first day that you set your heart to understand... your words were heard... But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days."

Daniel prayed, and God sent an answer—yet there was a twenty-day delay due to spiritual warfare. The truth is that there are times when the answer is coming, but there may be an unseen battle causing a delay.

Twenty-one days might not seem long, but if you've waited that long for something important, you know it can feel like forever. Daniel teaches us that just because we don't see an immediate response doesn't mean God hasn't heard. The answer may be on its way, but temporarily hindered, and we must keep praying.

Pause and Ponder: Think about a recent prayer request. Could God be answering either instantly or soon? How might this perspective change how you pray?