How to pray while waiting for God’s answer
Posted by Tracy on Feb 27, 2012 in Blog, Video blogs | 8 comments
Are you waiting on God for something?
Perhaps you are waiting for:
- direction
- healing
- the “one”
- a baby
- reconciliation
- a reason why
and God appears to be silent, or slow in providing an answer to your prayers.
Still, you continue to pray. And pray. And pray. Your prayers become repetitive. Discouragement begins to set in. Or worse yet, you cease to pray about “it” all together.
I understand this, because I have been there.
My request
Waiting on God to move in my life has always been a challenge for me. I feel that waiting, in general, stinks. My natural tendancy is to take control of my life. But God’s Word teaches me to release control of my life to Jesus.
I have learned that releasing often leads to waiting.
So since I am in another season of waiting, I asked God to show me a new way to pray. As usual, His counsel encouraged my weary heart. I pray His answer encourages you too.
God’s answer
God used Psalm 27:14 to teach me one new way to pray. Here are the rest of my thoughts…
Your turn to weigh in:
Why do you think God allows us to spend time in the “waiting room?” What is one “it” that God has done in your life? What did “it” teach you about God?
Tracy,
Thanks so much for this. I needed to hear this as I wait to sell/rent our home, and wait to have guidance on whether or not I should go back to work. I think God puts us in his “waiting room” to teach us to rely on him, and as you pointed out, to be expectant and hopeful. A christian author once wrote, “Pray until you pray the prayer that God answers.” Sometimes the prayer we are praying is not part of His overall plan. I also tell Jesus what I want to happen, but it’s not about me, and He has plans infintely greater than what I could fathom. It’s not always going to be what I want, but it will be best for His kingdom. God is good, and we have to wait in seasons until we learn to pray for his will, his blessing, his footsteps to guide us and give us grace with what we will face next.
God has done many things in my life. The “it” I can think of is laying out our moves so smoothly. I always worry when we move, as I’m sure you do, about where to live, where to go to church, where to work, etc. But, God always works that out. Here I sit in our new home and we already have a great church, a few friends, and things are going well. We still have our house in Tucson, which is stressful, but the past “its” have taught me that God is in control. He’s got it.
Thanks again. Much love to you and your family.
Jane: Thank you for stopping by and for your wise comments. I love the book quote you shared. And yes, God does have plans for us that are infinitely greater than we can fathom-thank goodness, right?! I am praising God for providing all that He has for your family (especially for the church and friends)…remember His faithfulness! Blessings my friend, and keep me updated on what God is doing in your life!
Waiting … the dreaded “W” word! I haven’t met anyone who has actually liked to process of waiting and I am among them. This was a good reminder of fixing our hearts and minds on the hope of Christ with knowledge and assurance that He will act and he is acting in the waiting process. It reminded me that our faith does not work in conjunction with out feelings. Too often, my feelings have led me astray.
Jenet: So glad this passage reminded you that God is active in the waiting process! You are right, feelings (and our hearts) can lead us astray if we are not mindful of them. (Jeremiah 17:9) Thank you for this reminder and for your honesty. Blessings, my friend.
From one Bible study geek to another, I loved your video. I loved the part where you brought out the Hebrew and said that waiting is not passive. I needed to hear that today. Your very sweet and good at speaking. Thanks!
Suzanne: It is so fun to meet another “Bible study geek”-love it! I would love to hear if any other words in Psalm 27 jumped out to you during your studies. I love how I can look at the same passage several times and the Spirit continues to teach me something new from it every time. The depth of God’s Word is truly amazing. Blessed to be in the “waiting room” with you, and thank you for your encouragement!
i recently got married and even before that i have been trusting the Lord for a job and am no longer waiting but am waiting patiently….am born again.
David says in psalm 119:50…my comfort in my suffering is this:your promise preserves my life. God’s promises keep me comforted as i wait patiently..pliz help me pray,wont you? i just long to work and provide for my family. amen
God bless you
Thank you for commenting Elly. God bless you as you wait and cling to God’s Word. I will pray Isaiah 41:10 over you. Thank you for sharing Psalm 119:50 with me. What a beautiful verse! Blessings to you