Most people can relate to waiting on God to answer prayer during a period of suffering. The Puritan writer John Flavel in his book The Mystery of Providence elaborates on why Christians shouldn’t despair when waiting for God to answer tearful prayers.
These delays, both for spiritual and temporal reasons are frequent, and when they befall us we are too apt to interpret them as denials, and fall into a sinful despondency of mind, though there is no cause at all for it (Psa. 31:12, Lam. 3:8, 44). It is not always that the returns of prayer are despatched to us in the same hour they are asked of God; yet sometimes it falls out so (Isa. 65:24; Dan. 9:23). But though the Lord means to perform for us the mercies we desire, yet he will ordinarily exercise our patience to wait for them, and that for these reasons:
One is that our time is not the proper season for us to receive our mercies in. Now the season of mercy is a very great circumstance that adds much to the value of it. God does not judge as we do; we are all in haste and will have it now (Num. 12:13). ‘For the Lord is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him’ (Isa. 30:18).
Another reason is that afflictive providences have not accomplished that design upon our hearts they were sent for when we are so earnest and impatient for a change of them; and till then the rod must not be taken off (Isa. 10:12).Again, the more prayers and searchings of heart come between our needs and supplies, our afflictions and reliefs, the sweeter are our reliefs and supplies thereby made to us. ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord, we have waited for him, we will rejoice and be glad in his salvation’ (Isa. 25:9). This recompenses the delay, and pays us for all the expenses of our patience.
But though there are such weighty reasons for the stop and delay of refreshing comfortable providences, yet we cannot bear it, our hands hang down and we faint. ‘I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God’ (Psa. 69:3). This even staggered Moses’ faith (Exod. 5:22, 23). O what groundless jealousies and suspicions of God are found at such times in the hearts of his own children (Job 9:16, 17; Psa. 77:7-9)!
But this is our great evil, and to prevent it in future trials, I will offer a few proper considerations in the case.
Mystery of Providence, 155-58
Flavel goes on to list five reasons why delayed answer to prayer is for our benefit. One, the delay causes us to treasure the answered prayer even more. Two, it’s better to have our hearts inclined earnestly to God than receive any earthly blessing. Third, it humbles us and causes us to seek God’s mercies, which we will find are new every morning. Fourth, it forces us to consider if there is any sin in us that is causing this affliction. Fifth, when God finally gives us what we ask after a delay we will all the more realize that the blessing is by pure grace and undeserved, as all our blessings are in this life.
So take heart if you are struggling to wait on God to answer prayer. He works all things–even delayed answers to prayer–for our good.
Mike McGregor
Mike McGregor (MDiv, Reformed Theological Seminary) is Director of College Ministry at First Baptist Church in Durham, N.C. You can follow him on Twitter at @m5mcgregor.
