The Daily Grace - Waiting. . .

Day after day for years, Harry shared with the Lord his concern for his son-in-law John who had turned away from God. But then Harry died. A few months later, John turned back to God. When his mother-in-law Marsha told him that Harry had been praying for him everyday, John replied, "I waited too long". But Marsha joyfully shared: "The Lord is still answering the prayers Harry prayed during his earthly life". Harry's story is an encouragement to us who pray and wait. He continued "steadfastly in prayer" and waited patiently (Rom. 12:12).

The author of Psalm 130 experienced waiting in prayer. He said, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits" (v. 5). He found hope in God because he knew that "with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption" (v. 7). Author Samuel Enyia wrote about God's timing: "God does not depend on our time. Our time is chronological and linear but God . . . is timeless. He will act at the fullness of His time. Our prayer . . . may not necessarily rush God into action, but . . . places us before Him in fellowship".

What a privilege we have to fellowship with God in prayer and to wait for the answer in the fullness of His time. Pray on! Cease not to pray! When the answer tarry, wait. God will surely come and He can never come too late. God may delay our request, but He will never disappoint our trust.