I remember Joseph and decades in the dungeon while his father believed him dead. David anointed and promised a crown before spending years fleeing and angry king that he refused to fight. My father looking at his dying baby boy and praying a God, if he's going to walk with you heal him but if he's not take him now and end his suffering prayer only to watch him yo-yo and play the prodigal, destroying his life and the lives of others, nearly dying repeatedly for about 30 years before finally turning back to God and finally answering the calling to serve the Lord.
Prayers aren't rush order lunch specials. Sometimes the answer is so instant and miraculous it makes microwave popcorn feel slow. But other times the plans of God take time to come together. Four hundred years passed between Joseph and Moses and the promised deliverance of Israel from Egypt. And that timing was perfect. A large family had grown protected from wars and enemies into a nation. We have become so used to instant gratification and fast, fast, fast that it can feel like a crushing blow and reason to doubt God if the struggle continues for hours or days, never mind years.
I get frustrated beyond belief if it takes my computer more than a minute to boot up for God's sake, how am I supposed to handle years of not knowing if my answer will come, if deliverance will be given on this side of eternity? Oh yes, that's the reminder. It's for God's sake. All of it. Lord, relieve me of the bondage of self (and my demand to have what I want right now or yesterday) that I might better do Your will, and take away my difficulties that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of YOUR POWER, YOUR LOVE and YOUR WAY OF LIFE.
Sometimes when I'm having to wait, I forget that it's not just that this world doesn't revolve around me, but that even my life is not about me or for me. The purpose of my life is to further His plan and bring Him glory. The peace and joy and wonder that come from obedient and faithful service to Him are awesome benefits, but they are not the purpose or the point. One thing that those situations that dragged on for years before the answer came, from Joseph and David, to my father's prayers for his oldest son and the woman's 15 year journey to joy, the people were kept. It wasn't as though God left anyone hanging for years until He finally decided to show up. Saul was never able to catch David. No one in that dungeon destroyed Joseph or turned him against God. Somehow I lived. I lived through wrecks and overdoses and years of addiction and suicidal tendencies and prison to finally pull my head up out of the pig trough and say what on earth am I doing? I will return to my Father's house. And God kept, protected and prepared the people involved in the situation I began this with as well. When the answer finally came it was always perfect timing for what was best for the person and gave the greatest amount of glory to God.
So if the burden on your heart, the darkness of your dungeon, has lasted 10 seconds longer than you desired or even 10 years longer than you could hold on to hope, don't give up. He is not slow in coming to our rescue, though it may feel slow. He will keep us, He will be our comfort, our peace and our joy, and He will always do what will in the end be the best for what we need and glorify Him most. That may mean the healing never comes on this side of eternity. It may mean years of struggle as we are led to the place where we and our lives are properly prepared and positioned. Or we could see deliverance before we can finish crying out Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! In all of those situations and every possibility between He is there, He cares and He can be trusted to do what is good and right for us. Hold on to His love, and don't give up.
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