by Desiree Bustamante

God always answers our prayers, but in His timing.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking this SoundCloud link. 

“I pray to you, O Lord, my rock.
    Do not turn a deaf ear to me.
For if you are silent,
    I might as well give up and die.”
Psalm 28:1 New Living Translation

There are many examples in Scripture about how we should pray and never abandon hope that God will answer our prayers. But waiting for answers is difficult. We want our prayers answered as quickly and easily as we can microwave popcorn or glide across a river when the wind fills our sails. We can’t imagine praying as often as Abraham and Sarah who had to wait 25 years for their promised son, Isaac, to be born.

But no matter how often we pray for our needs and the needs of others, or how much we pray with faith and persistence, it’s God’s timing that we struggle with. At times He does answer our prayers quickly, some answers come painfully slowly. He might answer prayers in layers, like peeling an onion, gently working behind the scenes to change our hearts or the hearts of others. But He always provides flawless answers to our prayers because He listens to us and loves us.

We should never give up praying, for even Jesus intercedes for us to keep us near to Him and out of Satan’s grasp. As we pray, we allow our hearts to be receptive to the Holy Spirit’s leading us to the mind of Christ. Prayer brings us nearer to our Heavenly Father and into a deeper relationship with Him.

When your prayer has been answered, give thanks to God as David did:

“Praise the Lord!
    For he has heard my cry for mercy.
The Lord is my strength and shield.
    I trust him with all my heart.
He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.
    I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.”
Psalm 28:6-7 New Living Translation

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado