God wants to ensure your heart is set on persevering, no matter how long his answers to prayer take.
Jesus gave us a parable to prove that he waits for us to persevere. It is the parable of the distressed widow who kept coming to the judge and requesting justice (see Luke 18:2-8). The judge finally granted the widow’s request only because he did not want to be worn down by her constant pleading. "Yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me" (Luke 18:5, NKJV). Jesus responded, "Hear what the unjust judge said. And shall God not avenge his own elect who cry out day and night to him, though he bears long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily" (Luke 18:7-8).
Most of us misinterpret this passage as Jesus speaking a paradox when he says, "bears long with them" and then "he will avenge them speedily." However, Jesus isn’t speaking of delaying a long time. He says God wants to answer us speedily, but God is "bearing something" that calls for patience on his part. He says, "I will put up with this thing I see in your heart. I will bear with you until you are willing to lay hold as you should for the answer."
As I look back at some of the things I have persevered in prayer for, I see the Lord saying, "I'm holding up the request to you like a mirror. Through this, I will show you what is deep in your heart."
I have seen doubt, fear, unbelief, and many things that have made me throw myself at Jesus’s feet and cry, "Oh, Lord, I’m not interested in the answers anymore, but only in getting this spirit out of me. I don’t want to doubt you."
The hardest part of faith is the last half hour. When it seems God will not answer, we often give up and go on to something else. We think we are surrendering to God’s providence, depending on his sovereign will. We say, "Well, God, you must not have wanted it after all."
No! That is not what God intended. When praying for God’s obvious will, such as the salvation of your family, you have every right to hold on and persevere. Never give up until Jesus answers.
No comments:
Post a Comment