My Prayer Is Still in the Queue - The Crosswalk Devotional - January 10
My Prayer Is Still in the Queue
By Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” - Matthew 7:7-8
Something I’ve been learning is the importance of patience in prayer. Often, I expect and hope God to answer right away. I’ll be praying so desperately, hoping to hear His response. When I don’t hear anything, I wonder, God, are You answering my prayer? This happened recently when I was praying for something. What God revealed to me is that He was answering my prayer, but it was still in the queue.
Do you remember the days of downloading music? If you downloaded multiple things at once, the computer would download about three, and all the others were in the queue, waiting to be downloaded. I remember how impatient I would feel, eager to listen to these songs. It was a wait. Eventually, though, I would be able to play them.
In this illustration, God helped me to understand that sometimes, my prayers are in the queue. God has heard them, He has answered them, but I have to wait for a little while for those answers. They are in the works.
Matthew 7:7-8 encourages me that God not only listens to my prayers but answers them. He says that “everyone who asks, receives” (emphasis added). So, when I pray, He responds.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What do we do when we are desperate to hear from God? According to this passage in Matthew, we keep praying. We continually seek His help and look for Him. He tells us that He will answer.
So, what do we do when our prayers are in the queue? We must learn to patiently wait. We must trust in God as we wait. Scriptures like Psalm 34 and 40 comfort me when I am desperate to hear from the Lord. In Psalm 34, it says, “In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles” (Psalm 34:6). David says in Psalm 40:1, “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry.” It goes on to tell of how the Lord helped David and was faithful to him. When we are in need of God’s help and cry out to Him, He will not fail us. We can trust in Him.
When we are waiting on God, in that challenging space, how do we know God is trustworthy? We know we can trust God because of His track record and also because of His Word. In the Bible, there are many stories of God’s faithfulness to His people. His Word also tells us of His character: “…And you have done what you promised, for you are always true to your word” (Nehemiah 9:8b). In Psalms, it says, “For the word of the LORD holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the LORD fills the earth” (Psalm 33:4-5). God is so good.
Following the passage about asking, seeking, and knocking, Jesus says, “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:9-11).
We can trust God in the waiting. We can trust Him when our prayers are in the queue. We are assured that He hears every word —that He knows what we need before we even ask Him—and that He answers our prayers (Psalm 34, Matthew 6:8).
Lord, Thank You that we can trust You in the waiting, that You are a faithful God. We thank you that You are faithful to answer every prayer. We love you. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Further Reading:
Matthew 6:8
Nehemiah 9, 9:8b
Matthew 7:7-11
Luke 11:1-13
James 1:16-17
2 Samuel 22:31
Psalm 33:4-5
Psalm 34
Psalm 40:1-3
How did today’s devotional speak to you? Share your thoughts in the Crosswalk Devotional discussion.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Prostock-Studio
Lauren Fletcher is a freelance writer and artist who currently resides in the Richmond, Virginia area. She sings and loves to do mission work and scripture art. She is passionate about being vulnerable, the power of the Gospel, and the Word of God. Lauren likes to write about what God is teaching her through her own life and share this with others. You can typically find her at her church’s café, drinking coffee and fellowshipping with friends.
Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com!
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