“God, why haven’t you done your thing yet?” Have you heard yourself asking that question before? I certainly have. Hey, Mandy Bowman here. On the phone with my mom recently, I was venting about waiting on God. I shared my frustrations regarding how I’m tired of praying and waiting, but nothing seems to be happening. Like a good mom, she listened and encouraged me. But afterwards, I still couldn’t stop complaining to God. In His great kindness, God graciously reminded me of some lessons I could learn from another person who frequently asked the same question – King David. Together, let’s discover a better way to wait for our answered prayer.
BE HONEST
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
King David’s Psalms are a treasure trove of heartfelt honesty. You’ll never find him sugarcoating his feelings. In Psalm 13, David cries out, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?” David’s raw, unfiltered prayers serve as a potent reminder that it’s okay to lay bare our frustrations, doubts, and fears before God.
When you’re waiting for your answered prayer, don’t hold anything back from the Lord. Pour out your heart in prayer, just as David does in the Psalms. Share your hopes, fears, anxieties, and even complaints without reservation, trusting that God listens not only to your words but to the depths of your heart.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE
Loneliness can creep in while waiting for an answered prayer. It’s easy to feel isolated, wondering if anyone else is going through what you are. The truth is, you’re not alone in your waiting.
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it tremendously comforting to know that I’m not the only one dealing with impatient frustrations. Even David, the man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14), struggled in waiting for his answered prayer. Not to mention countless brothers and sisters in the faith, throughout history and still today.
Undoubtedly, someone in your own church or life group has endured long wait times for their prayers too. Like me calling my mom, you might find encouragement connecting with a fellow Jesus follower who’s had to wait too.
HIS PLAN IS BETTER
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
David’s life was a testament to the idea that God’s plan is always superior to our own. When he was anointed as king, he faced countless trials, including the pursuit of King Saul, family conflicts, and national crises. Yet, in the end, David’s faith in God’s sovereign plan prevailed. Even after listing complaints to the Lord early in a given psalm, his attitude usually turns to trust as he makes the choice to praise while he waits for his answered prayer.
Waiting can be trying, especially when our desires seem unfulfilled. David’s life teaches us to trust in God’s wisdom and timing. Like a skilled potter shaping clay, God molds our lives in ways we may not comprehend at the moment. When you’re tempted to grow impatient, remember David’s enduring faith and be still, knowing that God’s plan is always for your ultimate good.
HOW DO YOU WAIT FOR YOUR ANSWERED PRAYERS?
When you’re struggling to wait for God to do his thing, what do you do? What promises from God’s word to do lean on? Who encourages you? Tell us in the comments!
