Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you
Isaiah 30:18
God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several instances of
this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the
angel until near the dawn of day--he had to wrestle all night for it.
The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long
while. Paul besought the Lord thrice that "the thorn in the flesh"
might be taken from him, and he received no assurance that it should
be taken away, but instead thereof a promise that God's grace should
be sufficient for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of
mercy, and hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty
Maker hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has
reasons peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it
is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that
Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the delay
is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order that thy
desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and
increase desire, and that if He keeps thee waiting thou wilt see thy
necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more earnestly; and that thou
wilt prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may
also be something wrong in thee which has need to be removed, before
the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan
are confused, or thou mayest be placing some little reliance on
thyself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus.
Or, God makes thee tarry awhile that He may the more fully display
the riches of His grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in
heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not
forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy delight
and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but continue
instant in earnest supplication.
