God hears prayer. He answers prayer. "Not now (wait on my timing, for it is perfect)" could be the answer.. or perhaps "no, dear.. I have something much better for you!".. or "Yes, I've been waiting for you to ask!".
Why do we doubt?
I know.. because the "wait on my timing" answer makes us think he doesn't care or hear us. I actually think "no" is an easier answer than "wait". Truth is.. We humans don't appreciate the word-"wait". Hello- red traffic lights- aren't our thing. Meanwhile, we try to control what we brought to God, because he doesn't 'seem' to be acting. I put the word in black, because control is probably how satan signs his name. However; I've learned recently that I had to let go of control in order to realize that God was acting. It took months for God to reveal to me the answers I was praying over. Nonetheless, HE ANSWERED, and ACTED. Again, it took months. For (probably the first time ever) in my life, I allowed God to take control. What most of you don't know, and may will one day in my near future, is that I've had some things going on that required all of my attention, and although these things were very hurtful to me, I had to turn to God to let him walk me through them. While he was focused in one-on-one with me on these issues, the external "things" that I had control over, (VERY important decisions), I let go of. I simply couldn't put my attention on them. As I prayed, read, met with fellow believers, etc. to assist me during this hard time... I noticed "Oh yea, these HUGE decisions that I decided to not focus on are being decided for me. And get this- Every single one of the decisions I once had control over... played in my favor over these last few months..once I handed over the control to God. I feel so fortunate to have been distracted by the issues that I had to focus on with God..because now I see that the prayers I prayed concerning the things I wanted to control... were taken care of. God needed me in tune with him- and though the pain was severe in my heart, He distracted me from things that would have otherwise stressed me out and turned me away from him.. thinking that He didn't "hear my prayers".
GOD KNOWS WHAT'S BEST FOR US! He will do whatever it takes for his plan to proceed. Can we just, you know, get out of the way? Pull over, and pray from the heart, and.. you'll see.. all the traffic lights will turn green. Let GO of the control and fear of "unanswered prayers", and let GOD!
"But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear" (Isaiah 59:2) - So, needing control and not trusting God with it, can hinder your prayers. Sin will stand in the way of your prayers- so shed them to light and allow God to cleanse you of them. This is why he died for us! Then, sit back and watch how he answers prayer!
Karen
