There is a Temporary Time!

It is not uncommon for even the strongest of believers to go through valleys and question God’s response to prayer. Psalm twenty-three says that we go through the valley of the shadow of death which means that as we live on this earth, death is always looming over us. However, we need to remind ourselves that temporary time is exactly that- temporary.

Daniel had such an experience in which he was earnestly praying for God’s help, and it seemed like there was no answer, but he continued to pray. In the tenth chapter of his book, verse twelve an angel said, “Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” The angel goes on to explain why the answer to his prayer was delayed. It may seem that there are times no matter how hard we pray that God does not answer our prayers.

We need to learn this lesson from Daniel that God hears our prayers even though he may not answer them according to our own schedule. The time between when we pray and receive the answer can be very frustrating for us. On the contrary, I can be a time in which we glorify God in advance knowing that the answer to our prayer will eventually come. It can also be a time in which we know that God is still sustaining us whether we feel it or not. In fact, while we wait in that temporary time God has been making plans for us ahead in the future for the blessing and direction that he intends.

This is an opportunity in which we can turn from our past that caused us to be haunted currently by our sins of yesterday or feel uncertain for our future. This is a time in which we can have a day of difference. This can be a growing time as we rely on God without any evidence of what he is going to do when he does answer us. It is highly important that while we wait for God’s answer that we maintain our trust in him knowing that we will hear from heaven. It is also highly important that we avoid being discouraged. It is our choice whether the temporary time is a growing experience, or we put ourselves into a dark environment of doubt. Every time we pray God takes note of what we are saying. Our words are not just vapor in the wind blown away. This is what faith is all about!