My Timing? My Way? Thankfully, No!

When your child throws a tantrum, insisting that you give him/her that particular toy just then, what is the response of the loving and responsible parent? A resounding NO! Giving in to the child's whim at that time would not be good for the child or even more importantly, that particular thing may not be good for them. Now that is something that you as a parent know, though the child may not always understand! How much more our heavenly Father!

Does God answer prayer? Of course, He does. Does He always answer the way we want? Thankfully NO! Do we always understand how He works? Not necessarily! But that's OK!

You and I don't always have to understand how or why things happen the way they do. Our job, as the familiar song goes, is to simply, Trust and obey, for there is no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey. We trust God for who He is, for what we know of Him to be true. We trust Him, knowing that He is our loving heavenly Father. We trust Him because He is in sovereign control of your life and mine. We trust Him because we have experienced His faithfulness in our lives, over the past years. We trust Him because we don't know what is best for us, but He always does.

Isaiah 55:9 says, "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts. The Lord's answer will definitely come, at His time and in His way. The Lord always answers prayers but often in ways that are very different from what we expect. Though the packaging is many a time different from what we may want, His answer is always the best for us. The Lord's ways are way better than what you and I could ever ask or imagine and this powerful poem says it perfectly.

I asked God for strength that I might achieve. 

I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. 

I asked for health that I might do greater things. 

I was given infirmity that I might do better things. 

I asked for riches that I might be happy. 

I was given poverty that I might be wise. 

I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. 

I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. 

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. 

I was given life that I might enjoy all things. 

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. 

Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. 

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

- Author unknown

God loves us too much to be curtailed or limited by our prayer. He answers us in ways immeasurably more than we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20). So, would you trust God today, to answer your prayer, in His way and in His time?

Dear Lord, I trust that You will answer my prayer, in your perfect time and your ways which are the best for me.