“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)

“God, help me!” Have you ever prayed and did not see results immediately? It seems like that happens most of the time. But we see in the Bible that prayers are often answered by the command to, “Wait”. So, are you waiting? Let’s look at some examples.

Moses had to wait 40 years to see the Promised Land but many of his people didn’t make it. (Joshua 5:6)

Joseph waited 14 years from the Pit to Potiphar to Prison to Pharaoh and then God’s Promise.

Noah waited over a year from the time God put him in the ark until God brought them out.

Abraham was 75 years old when he got God’s promise and 100 when Isaac was born.

Naaman was told to go dip seven times in the Jordan river to be healed. What if he dipped six times? (2 Kings 5:10)

The woman with the issue of blood was healed when she touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. (Luke 8:44)

Ten men who had leprosy were told to “Go show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14)

The man who was lowered to Jesus through the roof was told, “Take up your mat and go home.” (John 5:8)

 Bartimaeus cried out to Jesus who asked him what he wanted. Jesus knew. Bartimaeus asked. (Mark 10:52)

The 120 in the Upper Room were told to, “wait for the promise of the Father,”. They waited “in one accord” for 10 days. (Luke 24:49)

As we can see, sometimes our prayers can be answered immediately and many times we are asked to wait or to do something. God’s ways are higher than ours, (Isaiah 55:8), we have to trust Him. Sometimes, we ask wrongly. “You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:2-3). We must study the Word to know how to ask. And then there’s God’s timing.  “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” (Romans 12:12). Keep praying and…wait.