What do we do when we have been waiting on God to turn things around for us but it seems to not be happening? Or what about if things had turned around but have become a mess again for whatever reason and we have been crying out to God with what seems to be unheard prayers? These are the times that our faith is tested. These are the times that can test our character or help us realize some hidden truths about ourselves. There are many different reasons as to why we have to wait on God to make a move but there is always a greater good that comes out of these times. The one thing that we must be aware of, and fight against during this time, is the lies that Satan will try to convince us of.

God does not make us wait or not answer a prayer because he is upset with us or because we have done something wrong. He is not punishing us for disobedience. He is not paying us back for something that we have done. These are some of the lies that Satan will put in our mind to attempt to get us to give up on our faith and trust in God. I may not know why we are having to wait or endure unpleasant times but I do know that God works all things out for the good of those who love him.

He knows that we need to go through to become more like who he created us to be. He knows what we need to endure to strengthen the fruits of the Spirit. He knows what needs to happen in order for us to learn a valuable lesson. And he knows what we don’t need just as much as what we do need. Just because we think that we need something doesn’t mean that we really do. What we may think is the best thing for us may actually be the worst thing for us. But God does know exactly what we need, when we need it, and how it needs to happen. See God wants us to grow spiritually. He wants us to learn how to be happy when our circumstances aren’t so happy. He wants us to develop the steadfast character that he has placed in each of us and waiting on an unanswered prayer may be the way that we learn to do so. And sometimes the quicker that we grow spiritually, the quicker our circumstances will change or that prayer will get answered.

Having to wait for something can be agonizing for some of us. The soul/flesh wants what it wants, when it wants it, and does not have a problem with throwing a fit when it doesn’t get what it wants. That is part of our human nature. That is the part of us that God wants to see lose control over us. That is the part of us that God wants us to learn how to not focus on or even pay attention to. He wants our Spirit to be stronger than our soul/flesh so that we can be lead by it and live in His will for our lives. He knows what our life could be like if we learn to live by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and He wants nothing less than what is best for the calling that He has on our life. While we may feel like we are being tortured by unanswered prayers, they may be exactly what needs to be done for us to get to the Spiritual place in life that He intends for us to be.

We can have everything that we could ever dream of in life and still feel dead inside. If we are not Spiritually well nothing can make us permanently better. And God’s main concern for us is our relationship with Him and to live the life that He has intended for us. He is patient and does not mind waiting for you to give up on your way and welcome His way before He answers your prayer. Now of course I am talking about prayers that we pray concerning ourselves, and by no means am I saying that He will not provide healing or a need until you learn a lesson or surrender to Him. I am talking about our prayers of change, comfort, and wants for ourselves. We may need to go through some rough and tough things in order to learn a very valuable lesson that will bring about the change, comfort, or want that we have been praying for.

One last thing I have found that God may be making us wait is for our cooperation in the answer to the prayer. While it is true that God can do miracles in the blink of an eye, He will not do for us what we can do ourselves. He does require us to do our part, whatever that part may be in the situation. For example, if we want change in ourselves we are going to have to put forth the effort of doing the action part of it while God will provide the guidance and strength that we need to do so. We have to be willing to follow His leadership and do what we know or He tells us to do. He can make a complete change in us to instantly happen but most of the time He wants us to learn how to do differently by using the fruits of the Spirit that He put in each of us. He wants us to learn how to handle situations in life the right way even while our human nature is wanting to do something completely different. If we do not learn how to make good and right choices and decisions then we will never be able to fight against and win the attacks of Satan.

So I am leaving you today with these final words, NEVER lose hope or give up on your faith and trust in God Almighty!! Yes you may have been praying the same prayer for years now without a glimmer of an answer to it yet, but don’t give up. Ask Him if there is something that He needs you to learn and to speak truth to your heart. If you feel like He is leading you to take a certain action but you are not quit sure if it is just yourself thinking it or if it is Him telling you to do so, try it. The worst that can happen is it will not work out. At least then you will know that it was not God telling you to do so. Keep your Spiritual ears and eyes open, pay as close attention as you can to what is going on in your heart, and ask God if there is something that He is waiting on you for. And in the mean time, while you are waiting, be patient and be open to learn what you can from the waiting period.

I wish that I could tell you why we have to wait in some situations, or why some prayers never get answered, but that is something that only God knows and He has yet to inform anyone His reasoning behind His actions. So we have to keep our trust and faith in Him by knowing that He knows what is best for each and every one of us and for every situation that we will ever find ourselves in. And even if we never know or understand the reason we do know that He works all things out for the good of those who love and believe in Him.