Another Amen.

Another time of asking and pleading.

And yet nothing happens.

It’s been years or maybe even more than a decade

And yet the heavens remain silent.

You’re not the first one this has happened to.

Go back a few millennia and meet a boy turned man who used to be full of dreams.

His life had once exuded promise but now it appeared to be one big pile of ash.

Stuck in a foreign dungeon accused of a crime he didn’t commit, Joseph wondered why?

Why had God allowed this?

Why had his brothers hated him so much?

Why had the years dragged out?

Why didn’t the butler remember him?

There were still no answers.

Waiting is a hard thing to do

It’s hard on your emotions and it’s hard on your faith, and all of that is compounded by the fact that you can’t really be sure whether or not there is going to be light at the end of the tunnel or whether your life is just going to be tunnel.

Eventually God came through for Joseph¹.

Turns out he hadn’t been crazy when he had dreamt that all his brothers were bowing down to him.

After more than a decade his prayers were answered, and his dreams came true.

What was weird was that in spite of the wait, Joseph knew God was with him. It was why he prospered in Potipher’s house. It was why he was elevated even in prison. Before he saw answered prayer, he saw God’s presence even in his difficult circumstances.

Llife is often like that. You have 5 things on your prayer list. Numbers 2 to 5 get answered quickly, but number one remains outstanding.

You would say there is no God or God is deaf, but you’ve seen too much evidence of Him to doubt.

It happened to Joseph

It happens to us.

What do you do when your prayers remain unanswered?

Our human nature wants a reason. Maybe we’re not pleasing enough to God. Maybe our prayers have something wrong with them.

In Joseph’s case it was neither and when you think about it. Jesus never declined a request because the person asking was unworthy or hadn’t phrased the request well.

Prayers that tarry are for three reasons, God has a timing which hasn’t yet been fulfilled, we have a part to play which we haven’t, or God’s answer is no – and He will give us the grace for that no.

Most of us take option two because it’s easier to fault ourselves than to question God, but the reality is, sometimes regardless of what you do, certain strongholds just refuse to break.

Joseph got everything right. He kept his integrity in spite of the worst of situations, but that didn’t change the timeline on his prayer.

Eventually God ordained the time for Joseph to get his reward and not only did he get his freedom, the former prisoner became the Prime minister.

On most days I don’t want to hear God has me waiting for a reason, especially when the weeks, months and years feel like endless tunnel.

Regardless of how I feel, I remain comforted by a few facts. God is good, God is sovereign, God’s love and presence is real, and He will provide the grace I need; whether it is to wait, to do my part or to endure a no.

¹Gen 41 v 41-44

Have you ever wondered if your wait is worth it?

Let me know, comment below.