God’s Timing: What to Remember as You Wait for Answered Prayer

When it comes to prayer, there’s this matter of timing. Most of the time we want an answer yesterday. We want the financial pressure lifted, the relationship restored, and a miraculous healing now. 

But the truth is that God does not always move as quickly as we’d prefer.

We’re on His time, not our own. And His timing is perfect, “God has made everything beautiful for its own time…” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT). 

And ironically, this all takes some time to learn.

A Delay in Answered Prayer Is Not a Sign of God’s Indifference 

But His timing is not a sign of His indifference. Rather, it’s a sign of His wisdom. 

In Luke 18, God tells an interesting story that He specifically stated was to show His disciples that we should “always pray and never give up.”

The story tells of a relentless, persistent widow asking a corrupt judge over and over for justice. He finally tires of her and gives her what she asks.

So… is the point that God is like a corrupt judge who is indifferent toward us? And we just need to berate Him until He finally capitulates and gives us what we pray for? No—it’s the opposite of that; Jesus is using contrast to make a point.

See, the actual point is that God is unlike this corrupt judge who doesn’t care about people. God is the just and loving judge who does care. He is your loving Heavenly Father who will respond to you when you call out to Him. The Lord put it this way, “Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?” (Luke 18:7 NLT).

So don’t be discouraged and think God is not listening—keep praying.

God Isn’t Necessarily Telling You ‘No’ Just Because You Don’t See Anything Changing

I have prayed for things that the Lord did not grant until years, even decades, later.

As an example, my mother’s salvation. My mom was married and divorced multiple times, an alcoholic, and adrift from God.

Of course, after I became a Christian, I wanted her to know the Lord as well. But honestly, she didn’t seem too thrilled about my new faith, and she wasn’t ever open to talking about her soul.

I would think, “Is my mom ever going to come to the Lord?” Still, I kept praying for her. And one day, the Lord spoke to me clear as day. He said, “Go talk to your mother.” So I showed up at her home unexpectedly. And after our conversation, she finally made a commitment to Christ. 

My point is don’t give up.

Don’t Give Up on Prayer Simply Because God Isn’t Matching Your Preferred Timeline 

Don’t give up on that loved one you’ve been praying years for. And don’t stop praying for healing, or that door to open. Whatever it is you’ve been praying about, don’t give up on it.

Jesus said, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you…” (Matthew 7:7 NKJV). In the original language, there is an ascending intensity in those verbs (ask, seek, knock).

First, we ask a little more modestly. Then, we seek desperately. Finally, we knock—pounding on the door. 

God Will Answer According to His Will, Not Yours

Of course, God can answer a prayer as He chooses. And He may answer with a “Yes,” “No,” or “Wait.”

But we can trust God with every prayer because “[W]e know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

And when it comes to praying for someone’s salvation, I believe you’re praying for something that God wants to do: “[God is] not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9 NKJV).

Keep Praying and Be Patient 

So keep praying and be patient on the timing of the Lord. 

Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint” (NKJV).

Don’t give up, stop praying, or let silence convince you that Heaven isn’t listening. But instead keep praying, asking, seeking, and knocking.

Hear more of my thoughts on prayer when you listen to the latest episode on The Greg Laurie Show.