It’s been 3 years since you’ve prayed for a husband.
18 months since you’ve prayed for the money to buy your own home.
6 months since you’ve prayed for a new job.
You’ve done all you know to do. You’ve fasted for one week a month. You’ve quoted the scriptures day in and day out. You’ve prayed for two hours every day.
“When will the promises of God show up in my life?” you ask.
Let me first remind you of one thing. God is not a man that He should lie. Neither is He the son of man that He should repent of His Word. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill? (Numbers 23:19)
Of course, God keeps His promises. He’s also told us a few other things that most of us seem to forget or rather, neglect:
Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Psalm 127:2 It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
It seems that the Lord is basically telling us to not worry and not be anxious. He will take care of it all (whatever your all is….husband, job, money, whatever – all).
There’s nothing wrong with fasting and praying. Those are good things but they do not guarantee you anything from God. The reason we get what we get from God when we ask of Him is because of His goodness and His mercy.
We can pray and have faith (and we should) but don’t be mistaken. Everything is in His timing.
It may seem a little unfair that we can put all this effort into getting our needs met and then the Lord can’t even throw us a crumb to tell us when we can expect answers to our prayers. Right?
Not really. Yet, He hasn’t left us completely in the dark.
When we completely trust in God, we don’t have to rely on our own works. In fact, we will never receive a thing from God relying on what we do. It’s what Jesus has done that enables us to receive anything in this life.
That fact should actually set you free! No need to toil in prayer and works trying to get God to do something for you.
Make your requests known to God, thank Him for hearing you and just trust Him to answer. Let Him do the work while you rest in His promises. No need to toil. Rest. Resting implies trust and trust moves the hand of God.
Spirit Food for Thought:
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19”
Thanks Michelle for posting this. After a very trying week wrong with conflicts I sat on the couch exasperated this morning and full of anxiety of the things that were out of my control. Your words were a much needed reminder that I need to trust God and rest in him.
Hi Felisha-
I’m happy that this post has helped give you perspective. We all experience feelings of anxiety from our circumstances. We have to train ourselves, our spirits to turn toward God and His promises vs. dwelling on the things that threaten to consume us.