Waiting on God to answer prayers is one of the hardest places to be. It can feel like a wilderness, like the months and years are being wasted as we wait for God to answer.
My first prayers are big and bold, offered with great expectancy. If the answer doesn’t come right away, I’m okay. I can draw on my reservoir of patience, trusting that God will answer and His timing is best.
But as the weeks and months – and years — roll on and I’m still waiting, my prayers become less bold and less expectant. They’re even less consistent and sound more like questions.
Are you listening, God? Do you even see me and if so why aren’t you doing something? Do you even have this for me or should I let it go? Should I be doing more on my end? Is it too late?
Waiting on God to answer is always a test of our faith, not God’s faithfulness. Or His kindness.
The Bible shows us so many who had to wait on God long past their own timelines — like the prophet Habakkuk.
“How long, O LORD, will I call for help, And You will not hear?”
This was Habakkuk’s cry. He was in a hard place and he came to God with some hard questions. Judah, the country surrounding Jerusalem where Habakkuk lived, teemed with immorality, cult worship and injustice. Why wasn’t God doing something? Why was He waiting so long to intervene?
Habakkuk’s conversation with God gives us 6 truths when we’re waiting on God to answer prayer.
1. When waiting on God, bring hard questions to God rather than letting hard questions drive us from God.
(Hab. 1:2)
When we lay our hard questions before God in trust, God may slowly peel back the layers of our understanding. We can surrender control, let go of burdens that aren’t ours to carry and exchange our worry for His peace.
Often, though, God doesn’t answer our questions. I wonder if we’d agree with Him if He did. In that gap where’s there’s no explanation, we have to simply trust. God hasn’t called us to understand; He’s called us to follow.
2. When waiting on God, realize God’s answer to our personal situation may hinge on a larger plan.
(Hab. 1:5)
If our eyes could only pan out to see all that God is orchestrating, we might understand the wait. We’d probably even agree with it! Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers because our situation is only a small part of the larger work that God is doing.
3. When waiting on God, realize God is at work even when we cannot see Him.
(Hab. 1:5)
Christian culture tosses around phrases like “God showed up” or “God is on the move.” But these aren’t Biblically accurate. God is always at work, even when we haven’t discerned it or can’t see it.
At the same time Habakkuk was questioning whether God was listening, God was moving on a worldwide level to address the very problems Habakkuk prayed about. God’s silence never indicates God’s inactivity.
4. When waiting on God, reaffirm Who God is so we can press through the wait.
The waiting room causes all kinds of doubt to surface. It’s one of the enemy’s favorite tools — to whisper doubts about God in our wildernesses of waiting.
But God often reveals himself in the wilderness. He did for Hagar and Abraham, Moses, Elijah and all of Israel. In our long wait, we need to reaffirm who God is and what He does and anchor our trust there.
5. When waiting on God, make sure we haven’t rejected His answer.
We so often pray with the answer we want in mind. We have our own agendas, our own plans for how we want life to go. When we pray not just for God to answer, but for Him to answer in a specific way, we’ve already limited Him.
But God doesn’t think the way we do nor does He work the way we do. Accepting the way God answers our prayer is as much a surrender as waiting for God to answer. We need to open both hands to receive whatever God gives us instead of keeping them closed until we see an answer that matches our wish list. Above all else, our life must conform to God’s will.
6. When waiting on God, trust that God’s timing is perfect.
(Hab. 2:3)
Years ago, a young couple in our church small group was waiting for their house to sell. Until their house sold, she couldn’t put in her notice at work, they couldn’t make school plans for their kids and her mom couldn’t sell her house to move in with them. They waited all through the summer, well past their own timeline.
In a just-before-midnight moment, they got a contract. “God is never late!” the wife gushed as she shared the news with our small group. “True,” her husband piped in, “but He’s rarely early.”
God’s time frame is not our own. It’s never too late with God. The waiting isn’t wasted time. God will fulfill His promises at the perfect time.
“If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (Hab. 2:3)
So true Lisa! Waiting on God’s answer to prayer surely is one if the hardest things we must do. Thanks for your clarity and beautiful words to remind us he is faithful when sometimes it feels He is far from us.
Our God’s timing with each of us is perfect, HIS plan for each of is the best, I am sure HE understands our desperation, and HE will provide at the very right moment!!
I have been praying since Friday for my little kitty to come home asking God to bring him home I hope he is listening
Oh yes… the dreaded waiting part of answered prayers! It’s hard and I don’t think it is anyones’ favorite part – but it digs around and sows down deep and we bear more fruit because of the waiting! Often I think also we pray, but we forget to turn to thanksgiving (yes – even before He answers!) Sometimes I wonder if He is waiting on us, while we are waiting on Him! Great post!
Thanks for encouraging me! God is perfect is everything He does! Loved this –> God’s timing is not just better than ours, it is perfect. And if God’s timing is perfect, then we can rest in the wait. I’m linking up with you too in Women with Intention Link Up.
W/Love,
Tayrina from TGAWrites
Thank you Tayrina. Yes, to trust God’s perfection!
It’s funny but as we wait sometimes we miss His answer because we’re expecting what we want and are not completely open to His will.
I know I have pushed against a clear answer but when I yield I usually see, later how God’s answer was best. Thanks Celi!
Thank you for sharing this. Many times I think we forget that He answers prayers everyday, but He answers them in ways different than what we are expecting. We must not for get that everything is either a blessing or a lesson. God Bless You — Romany
Yes, thank you for visiting!
God says he walk before us to level mountain before us believe he is working in our behalf
Hi Lisa,
I’m your neighbor today at Holley’s link-up. It seems as if I’m always waiting for something and these truths that you remind us of ask us to put our trust in the one who can see the entire span of our lives from start to finish! Waiting is hard, but can be such a rich time to experience God in ways I haven’t known before! Enjoyed this post!
Yes, exactly Valerie. Thank you for your comment!
Such a great post on a hard subject to do – waiting. My husband and I have been in prayer about a situation and it seems like the answer is so far away. So it was good to be reminded that God always has our interest at heart and is working for our good !!! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from the Wise Woman Link Up.
Thank you Rebecca! Yes, always working and sometimes we get to see it!
This is an excellent truth. The waiting can drive us crazy until we remember God is still in control.
This is a wonderful post! I think we have all been there…left wondering if God can even hear us. You pointed out some great truths here that will help me in the wait. I love the reminder to step back and look at the big picture.
Laura, yes. Thank you for stopping by!
Such a good post, and those action steps are definitely key! #livefree
Reading your post at Live Free Thursdays, and nodding my head. Yes, the waiting is excruciating, but I especially love your point that God is at work in ways in which we cannot see. Yes and amen.
Thank you Michele! We’ve all been there. As I studied Habakkuk, God’s faithfulness despite the wait so resonated with me. Thank you for visiting!
Habakkuk is one of my absolute favorite books in the Bible, with 1:5 being my fave scripture. Our family has clung to that verse for years, and we stand strong on it today. I’m grateful that God has gone before us, and has it all under control, even when we question! Blessings! #livefree
Crystal, so nice to see another one who loves this little book. Thank you!
Lisa, found you a #Livefree Thursday. I hate to wait. Not just on God, but on anything! But life is full of waiting, and God uses waiting to hone my faith and purify my affections. I appreciate your thoughts. I really enjoyed your “about” page intro. Blessings.
That’s it exactly, Debbie. Thank you for visiting.
Sometimes I think I need to be reminded of these daily, maybe hourly. Waiting is the hardest thing, even when I know God’s plan is better!
It really can be harder than other seasons Sarah!
So encouraging! Thanks for linking up at Women With Intention Wednesdays!
Thanks for your wise words from the scriptures and sharing with us what you learned through your experience. All of your points were great, but 4 and 5 are ones that I need to really work on. Recently God reminded me that He doesn’t give us the whole picture all at once–just pieces to the puzzle. I believe it would likely overwhelm us knowing it all up front as much as it would not knowing. Well, that’s just my thinking. But, I try to keep the “puzzle pieces” He gives me as reminders that God does order my steps, He’s still directing my path (even though sometimes I feel like I’ve gotten lost). Bless you for this post!
‘God is at work even when I cannot see Him’ and ‘I need to make sure I have not rejected His answer’ hit home with me. I am currently seeking direction for a relocation and change of ‘career’ for the last decade or so of my working years. Not exactly a yes or no answer, and the timing issue is rather open-ended, isn’t it?
Thanks so much for these great truths, Gerry! It has encouraged me today. ~Continuing to wait on God, Joyce
thank you so much for the inspiration , I needed to read that today.i am currently praying for a new job oppurtunity and I know I get dispondent sometimes cause I want it now but like u said -Gods Timing is Perfect .and Patience is key while we wait .
I recently made a blog post about patiently waiting for God’s best. Your post just confirms everything I wrote myself. Just another example of Christians being on one accord in spirit.
Oh boy, Nichole, I know God really intends me to know something when I hear the message several different places. Thank you for sharing!
I love these six truths! These are so hard to remember when we are patiently waiting in silence. It’s so hard to put God in control when we can’t see Him in action. I will be sharing. Thank you!
Whitney, it really can be hardest waiting when we don’t see His action. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for posting this. It is true that when I pray for something so earnestly, it seems as if I will never get an answer, and I have to continue to encourage myself that GOD will come through for me in my time of need. But GOD knows what HE’S doing when when I don’t. Thanks for this extra boost.
Great post. We are in a period of waiting for several things. We know that God is sovereign and are so hopeful. We hit 3 months this week to adopt our first child. We are so hopeful. Joyful in the wait is what I call it. However, there are days that the Word encourages us in a way like nothing else can. Thank you for your post!
It’s hard not to do back flips when I read this passage! Oh for eyes to see all that God is doing. Thank you for your sweet comment and your prayers, Jenny.
Wonderful post! I’m blessed to see your post! I especially am encouraged by the point you made in number 3, God’s silence does not mean His inactivity!
Blessings,
Patty
I like to remind myself that God always has my best interest at heart, even if my prayers are not answered. His time is always perfect 🙂
I feel so blessed by this teaching.
I’m very bless with these Bible verses, Thank for teaching me hw to be patient to God-answer.
God here I mine waiting for you to answer me which I know you will soon in ur name amen
Thanks for this great insight….God bless you.
Thank you so much for this, Gods timing is perfect I am going through a really rough time right now and I opened up face book to find this there waiting for me. Thank you for the encouragement.
I’m praying for you!
Our dog disappear for 3 weeks.we looked everywhere for her, with no luck..the third Sunday I prayed an asked God that I know that he knows exactly where Bella was and if she is alive, would he bring her home, if it is his will .the next morning Bella came home the next morning
Thank you for sharing these words i was completely in doubt and wondered iif indeed its true GOD answered our prayers but with these words i vebeen so much encouraged and i will continue waiting on the lord for him to answer my prayers .am waiting with Hope and confidence that no matter what my petitions have been answered in the mighty name of JESUS.
I too am waiting on God. It is so painful. Your post helped. You are sensitive and intuitive. Sometimes I doubt. Is that bad? Thank you for your insight.
Paulette