Have you ever wondered, “What happens in-between?” Of course, the obvious question is “in-between what?” I’m specifically speaking about our prayers and their answers. Many have asked God and haven’t yet received. It makes us wonder, “Is God even listening to me?” or “Is God really there?” or “Why would Jesus say that He would answer us and He hasn’t?” There could be many more obvious questions that make us wonder and sometimes even doubt.
Is it a lack of faith? Many may accuse you of not having enough faith, but Jesus said that it only took an amount of faith the size of a tiny, small mustard seed (see Matthew 17:20). I don’t think that in most cases a lack of faith is the problem.
Before we continue, I would like to point out that there are six places in the New Testament where Jesus said that if we ask anything in His name, He will do it. You can read them in John 14:13-14, John 15:16, John 16 23-26. I have addressed this before but we need to make it plain first of all that the key is asking in His name – On His behalf, as an ambassador of Christ. The United States has ambassadors in many foreign countries. These individuals are acting on behalf of our country. They make decisions based on the desires of the citizens of The United States of America. Like-wise, we ask in Christ. Asking in His name means that we ask for what He would ask for. We are His ambassadors. We are acting on His behalf. Whether in our personal life or that of someone else, we are seeking the will of Christ in the given situation. This being established, it explains what James said (see James 4:3), “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Those who tell you that you can ask for mansions, luxury automobiles, expensive clothing and jewelry and that God wants to lavish it on you are teaching false doctrine (by the way, all you have to do is to send them an offering as large as you can afford, and then give until it hurts). Selfish extravagant prayers will be answered with a “NO!” But when we ask according to the will of God, for what Jesus would have asked for as His representative, then we are told that we shall have it.
Okay, but now that you have asked in Jesus’ Name, on His behalf, for what He would ask for, you’d think that you would get it. “Why hasn’t my prayer been answered?” Of course, each situation is different, and the circumstances unique so there probably is not an instantly every time answer. Some prayers do get answered right away. Some seem to take forever. The key to patiently waiting on the answer lies in the question we should be asking, “What is taking place in-between the time I ask and the time I receive?”
To illustrate what I’m talking about I’d like to use a couple of examples from the Old Testament. The first one is found in Daniel 10. Daniel had witnessed a vision of a strange looking man walking along the shores of the Tigris River. Daniel heard his words but didn’t understand their meaning. He had prayed and sought God about it. Before he saw the vision, he had a message revealed to him and for three long weeks he had prayed and fasted seeking the answer. It was shortly after he had seen the vision of the strange man walking along the river, that an angel from God touched him on the shoulder and told him that he had been sent by God to bring him the answer immediately when he prayed, but that the prince of the kingdom of Persia had withstood him for twenty-one days. One of the chief angels of Heaven came to his assistance (Michael – Daniel 10:13) and he was relieved to continue to Daniel to give him his answer. It is an example of how the devil will attempt to thwart our prayers. He doesn’t want us to get an answer. At times our delayed answer could be because of a battle in the unseen.
Another example is that of Hannah (see 1 Samuel 1 and 2). She was the second wife of Elkanah. He loved her but she was barren and desperately wanted a child. She had spent several long years praying for a child. Elkanah’s other wife made fun of her, ridiculed her and boasted how that she was able to bear children for their husband but Hannah could not. Each year they traveled to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover. At the last one they had attended, Hannah prayed long without moving her lips and the high priest, Eli thought she was intoxicated. When he confronted her, she told him that she had prayed for years to bear a child, to which Eli told her to go her way and that God had answered her pray. He told her this in a way that sounds more like he was trying to get rid of her. But she believed and long story short, by the next year she gave birth to the boy, Samuel.
My point with these two stories is that when the answer seems long in coming, that doesn’t mean that God is ignoring you, or putting you off. It doesn’t mean that He doesn’t hear you or that you aren’t important to Him. What it does mean is that He is working in-between your pray and your answer to bring everything into alignment so that your answer comes at just the right moment. God will orchestrate the process so that you get what you have asked for just exactly at the right time. If your prayer involves other people, He will design the answer so that it comes just when you and all the others involved need it the most.
I have heard of mothers and grandmothers who had earnestly sought God on behalf of their children and grandchildren. It seemed like the answer would never come. In some cases, the answer did not come until the one praying had left this world for Heaven. But then, just at the right moment, when it was most needed, that child or grandchild turned to God and their answer came.
So, my message to you is that if you have not asked amiss, and you have prayed in the will of Christ, know that your answer will come. It could be immediate, or it could take a while. Just always remember that God continues to work all through the in-between.
— Jerry D. Ousley is the author of “Soul Challenge”, “Soul Journey”, “Ordeal”, “The Spirit Bread Daily Devotional” and his first novel “The Shoe Tree.” Newer books include “Finality” and “Dividing God’s Church.” Visit our website at spiritbread.com to download these and more completely free of charge