A Prayer When It’s Urgent but God Hasn’t Answered - Your Daily Prayer - November 13
A Prayer When It’s Urgent but God Hasn’t Answered
By Kristine Brown
Bible Reading
“As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.” (Psalm 40:17 NLT)
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Have you ever been in such desperate need that you couldn’t see how things could work out? Maybe you cried out to God with great urgency, begging him to intervene. Because without God’s help, the situation felt hopeless.
I’ve been in that place where I desperately needed an answer. Sometimes in my own strength and wisdom, I try and try to find a solution, but after exhausting every possibility, I sit frozen in my anguish. Other times, I pray right away and ask others to pray, but even though my situation is urgent, I don’t see God responding. My prayer becomes, “God, do not delay!” But with every minute that passed without any change, I struggled to hold on to hope.
So, what do we do when it’s urgent but God hasn’t answered? We can look to the psalmist David’s example in Psalm 40 when he cried out to God, “As for me, since I am poor and needy, let the Lord keep me in his thoughts. You are my helper and my savior. O my God, do not delay.” (Psalm 40:17)
David began this psalm by looking back and recalling the Lord's goodness. “I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.” (Psalm 40:1-2)
There are times when our prayers usher us into a season of waiting. God beckons us to trust him as we wait. Peace, patience, and self-control develop in us because we know God “causes all things to work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28) However, there are also those circumstances when there’s no time to lose. We feel like we can’t wait, and so our thoughts turn to fear over what may happen without God’s immediate intervention.
We long for those right-now answers, like Peter calling out, “Save me, Lord!” in the middle of the storm, and Jesus reaching out to grab him. It’s hard to keep trusting when we’re waiting on God to move. When we feel like we’re sinking, panic sets in. David demonstrated the important practice of reminding ourselves what God has done in our lives. With the truth of his power and promises, we can keep our thoughts focused on the Lord while we wait for his answer. “I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!” (Psalm 121:1-2)
David told others of God’s faithfulness and saving power. (Psalm 40:10) He faced many battles, yet he chose praise and gratitude in the midst of it all. David knew a truth we can cling to when a battle looms and threatens our hope: There will be victories, followed by new battles to face, but our God is ever faithful to fight for us. So the next time we cry out to God, we can know he hears and responds. “Please, Lord, rescue me! Come quickly, Lord, and help me.” (Psalm 40:13) The urgency of our need can muddy our focus, but God will never abandon us in our trials.
If today you are standing on the front lines of the battlefield and crying out an urgent request to your Heavenly Father, you’re not alone. Rest assured that he hears. Together, may we remember David’s words and refuse to give up hope. God is faithful, and he is battling on our behalf right now.
Let's Pray
Dear God,
It’s urgent. Please help, and don’t delay. I don’t know what to do or where to turn. You are my only hope. Forgive me for losing my focus as I face this unthinkable situation. I know I can trust you, and I know you are with me even when I don’t see how things will work out. God, I am giving this over to you. I believe you are in control and you care about my struggle. You are the answer. You have been faithful in the past, and you are faithful now. Thank you, God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: iStock/Getty Images Plus/palidachan
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