A point was raised over one of my posts sometime ago. I found this in my archives and thought to publish it here.
Issue raised: Am still bothered about these religious statements of ‘God’s answer to our prayers may be yes, no or wait’. Its not quite different from the statement ‘heaven helps those who help themselves’. Both are not perfectly rooted in scriptures.
My Answer: Unlike heavens help those who help themselves which I don’t follow either, I believe looking through the scriptures, we will see the different types of answers that God gives us.
2 Cor. 12:7-9: Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
This looks like a ‘NO’ to me. I want to start with this answer: ‘NO’. Paul asked something from the Lord and He wasn’t given what he wanted like he wanted it. God decides what He gives us whether we like it or not. He knows what is good for us as Kingdom children. He might decide to say a ‘NO’ to prove a point to us and the world. And because we are His children, He might allow us understand why He’s decided not to recede on His decision.
Moses is another perfect example of someone that got a ‘NO’ answer. He asked that God forgive him and change His mind and allow him enter the promised land but he wasn’t granted.
For the ‘WAIT’ answer, how about we look at
Eccl. 3: 1, 11: For everything there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven. . . . Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
There is a time for everything, that includes what I am asking God for. God is God and He decides when He gives us what we ask of Him. We are the ones that are myopic and may not see what He’s seeing far into the future. He sure know what is best for us and when it best for us.
Also, Habakkuk 2:2-4 reflects the wait answer: Then the LORD said to me,
“Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled.
If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently,
for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.
I won’t spend much time on the ‘YES’ answer since there are lots of instances. God can give you what you ask for right away. The fact remains: God is God!
The saying may not be in a single verse but I believe it is biblical.
- OMOSEBI Mary Omolola
© 2016
