Are You Waiting on an Answer to Prayer?

Are you in a wait for an answer to prayer that you’ve prayed for a long time?

This weekend, I read back through my journal. I turned to an entry last spring and discovered the seed of a prayer I’ve prayed for over a year. I still don’t have a final answer.

Are you in the same place as me?

Waiting on an Answer to Prayer

In the past year, I’ve seen more developments. I’ve gotten more details, which has enriched my prayers. But I haven’t gotten the final answer, and that can be frustrating.

It’s hard to pray over and over for the same prayer and see no results. Many times, I’ve even started my prayers like this: “God, I know you’ve heard me pray about this before, and I’m sorry to come to you again about it…”

Do you do the same thing?

I know that God never gets tired, so he doesn’t tire of hearing my same prayer. In fact, God keeps encouraging me, stretching my faith, and giving me new glimpses of hope as I practice patience. I hope he’s doing the same for you as you prayerfully wait.

How to Wait in Prayer

This winter, I watched an Instagram video by Dr. Tony Evans that has helped me wait for an answer in prayer more patiently and fruitfully. I want to share a paraphrase of his idea with you.

His son Jonathan was interviewing him about how a woman should pray for a future husband. (I was watching this video with my 12-year-old son as a teaching moment–but it taught me even more than him, I think!)

Dr. Evans responded with such wise advice. He recommended that a young woman seeking an answer to prayer for a husband should perhaps give up one lunch per week to fast and pray over this important matter. But the rest of the week, she should get on with living her life. She needs to rest, exercise, work, visit with friends, worship and enjoy her single life.

His point: don’t obsess over a prayer request. Pray deliberately and faithfully, but wait patiently. Don’t let it take over your life.

I confess that I’ve probably over-prayed this situation, if that’s possible. I need to keep praying, but also get on with living my life.

Be Joyful While You Wait

I hope this verse encourages you as you wait for an answer in prayer:

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 12:12 NIV

While we wait, we need to be joyful in hope. We need to be patient in our afflictions (because waiting in prayer can be painful). We need to faithfully pray even when we don’t see results. God hears our prayers and is working out his will behind the scenes where we can’t always see it.

If you want more information about fasting, I’ve written about it on this post. When you give something up during a fast, use your cravings as calls to pray for your long-awaited prayer.

Here’s a prayer to encourage you today:

Heavenly Father,
Thank you for hearing every prayer I offer to you.
I trust that you are working out your will in my life through this prayer I have prayed many times.
Help me be faithful in prayer while not obsessing about the details.
If I must pray for years before I see an answer, give me the strength and patience to do so, Lord.
Thank you, Lord, for giving me joy and hope while I wait.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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