The God Who Meets Us In The Middle Day Two: Between Prayer and Answers

“I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.” — Jim Eliot 

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.” — Psalm 130:5

When I was a kid, I acted up in the grocery store, and my mom told me I'd get punished when I got home.  

"Acting up" is a Southern saying that means "being naughty." 

Honestly, I like it better.  Lots of things can "act up," like your car, dishwasher, and, as I've already established, your kids. 

So I was acting up in the store and was told judgment awaited me when we got home. 

So I went and stood by a display of baked beans and began to pray. 

Out loud. 

I prayed that God would forgive me, and that I wouldn't be punished. 

My mom overheard and thought it was cute, so she let me off the hook. 

Naturally, a few weeks later, I was acting up again, and dramatically tried praying once more. 

That time, it didn't work. 

That's how I learned not all prayers get answered the way you want.  

And through my life, I've had to learn that lesson over and over again.  

Some prayers are answered quickly.

Others aren't.

And then there are prayers we've prayed so many times that we aren't sure what else there is to say.

We pray for healing.

We pray for reconciliation.

We pray for direction.

We pray for someone we love.

We pray for a door to open.

We pray for something—anything—to change.

And then...

Nothing.

At least nothing we can see.

Waiting is one of faith's hardest parts.

We like action. We like progress. We like knowing something is happening.

Waiting feels like nothing is happening.

But Scripture is filled with people who wait.

Abraham and Sarah wait for a child.

Joseph waits in prison.

Israel waits for deliverance.

Hannah waits.

The prophets wait.

The disciples wait between Jesus' ascension and Pentecost.

Apparently, waiting doesn't interrupt the spiritual life.

Waiting is part of the spiritual life.

The Psalmist says, “I wait for the LORD, my soul waits.”

Notice that biblical waiting isn't doing nothing.

The Psalmist hopes.

Watches.

Trusts.

Longs.

Waiting itself becomes an act of faith.

As I said, I learned early on that not every prayer receives the answer we want. 

Also, I've been a pastor for a long time and have stood beside too many hurting people.

Sometimes healing doesn't come.

Sometimes relationships aren't restored.

Sometimes the door remains closed.

Faith doesn't require us to pretend otherwise.

But an unanswered prayer doesn't mean God is absent.

Sometimes, while we wait for God to change our circumstances, something begins to change within us.

We become more patient.

More compassionate.

Less certain that we can control everything.

More aware of our dependence upon grace.

And sometimes, only much later, we discover that something was happening that we couldn't yet see.

If you're waiting for an answer today, keep praying.

But perhaps add another prayer:

God, while I'm waiting for something to change around me, show me what you are doing within me.

Waiting isn't empty space between prayer and answer. God is present there too.

May this be so for us all, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us, now and forever. Amen.  

Prayer

God, you know the prayers I have prayed again and again. You know the answers I hope for and the questions I still carry. Give me patience when I cannot see what you are doing. Help me remain open, hopeful, and attentive while I wait. Whatever the answer may be, remind me that I do not wait alone. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. What prayer have you been waiting to see answered?
2. How has waiting changed you?
3. What would it mean to look for God's presence while you wait rather than only looking for an answer?