*** PRAYER DELAYED IS NOT PRAYER DENIED ***

Beloved, if you have been knocking at the gate of mercy and have not received any answer; let it not be known to you that the Almighty God has not opened the door and let you in. God often delays in answering some prayers. Our Heavenly Father has reasons peculiar to himself for 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.

We have several instances of this in the Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessings from the angel until near the dawn of day when he had to wrestle all night for it (GENESIS 32:24-30). Paul besought the Lord three times 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 (2CORINTHIANS 12:7-9). Job spoke on waiting on the Lord till his change come when he proclaimed, “IF A MAN DIES, SHALL HE LIVE AGAIN? ALL THE DAYS OF MY APPOINTED TIME WILL I WAIT TILL MY CHANGE COME (JOB 14:14).

The reason you are perhaps kept waiting may be for your desires to be more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase your desire, and that if He keeps you waiting, you will see the necessity more clearly, and will seek more earnestly and then will prize God’s mercy all the more for its long tarrying (2PETER 3:9).

God may also tarry because there may be something wrong in you which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is given according to ISAIAH 30:18-19. “AND THEREFORE WILL THE LORD WAIT, THAT HE MAY BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU, AND THEREFORE WILL HE BE EXALTED, THAT HE MAY HAVE MERCY UPON YOU; FOR THE LORD IS A GOD OF JUDGEMENT: BLESSED ARE ALL THEY THAT WAIT FOR HIM”. Perhaps your view about life and certain things are confusing or you may be placing some little reliance on yourself, your qualifications and wisdom instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God has decided to make you tarry awhile so that He may display fully the riches of His grace to you at last.

My beloved, whichever be the case, your prayers may have gotten to heaven, but not answered immediately does not mean it has been forgotten. With faith, in a while answer shall be given to it to your satisfaction. Let not despair make you silent, but continue in earnest supplication…SHALOM!!!

# DELAYED GRATIFICATION ALWAYS LEADS TO GLORIOUS END #