Title When the answer is late
Contents
Hymn: 482 'The Time of My Prayer'
Meditation: Even if the answer to prayer is delayed, we must continue to pray without giving up the belief that God's promises will surely come true.
Confession of Faith: Apostles' Creed
Text: "The LORD counseled Sarah according to his word, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had spoken..." (Genesis 21:1-7)
Word: We know that God does not break His promises, but sometimes our faith is shaken when the answers to our prayers are delayed. The question arises, 'Will God really hear my prayers?' However, the text speaks of the secret of unwavering faith in God even when prayer answers are delayed. God's promise is to be sure that it is a surety check that is fulfilled according to the Word. We need to have faith that God's answers will come at the right time. God, who is faithful, does not change his promises according to circumstances, but rather makes the circumstances change according to the Word. Abraham waited 25 years. But God did it all “at its due date” (v. 2).
Just as there is a time for everything, there is also a time for answering prayers. The time of prayer is the time that God thinks is most appropriate for us. Instead of using God in our own time, we must adapt to God's response time. did you pray? You need to have faith that God will answer you at the most appropriate time. We must also have confidence that God will make us smile when we pray. It is our faith that precedes prayer.
Abraham and Sarah spent 25 years waiting for a child, a long and painful day. Even when there were fun things, just thinking about the child would make the laughter disappear. But God finally made Sarah smile. From the words, “I was a hundred years old when I gave birth to my son Isaac… God made me laugh” (verses 5-6), we can see that Sarah’s feelings of inferiority, hurt, and pain toward her maidservant Hagar disappeared in an instant.
Do we have a prayer topic that has not been answered for a long time? Eventually you'll laugh at it. Because God has a good plan for me. And true laughter will make others laugh too. He says, “Everyone who hears will laugh with me” (verse 6). God is smiling next to those who have received answers to their prayers. And the people around you will enjoy it too.
Prayer: God, help me to experience answers while trusting in God's promises without being discouraged even when the answers to my prayers are delayed. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Lord's Prayer