Sept. 3, 2010 - The Answer's On Its Way

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 - 4:09 PM CST

By William E. Richardson

“The Lord has heard my supplication; The Lord will receive my prayer” (Psalm 6:9, NKJV).

The fastest mammal on earth is the cheetah. I’ve seen God answer prayer at cheetah speed. I’ve also anticipated answers that seemed to arrive at a snail’s pace. Many wonders in God’s world help us understand His sometimes-slower replies. Let’s look at three helpful pictures.

Children and snow: Children look forward to winter’s first snowfall. The sight of thousands of tiny, falling flakes always brings excitement. After millions of flakes, children make and throw snowballs. Billions of snowflakes later, they mold snow forts.

Like the promise of snow, the question usually isn’t “if” God will answer my prayer, but “when” God will reward the faith of a child (Mark 10:15). I believe He likes how children celebrate snow. They run through it as it falls, relish how it feels on their faces and tongues, and find dozens of uses for it. Children and snow teach us both anticipation and appreciation.

Buffalo crossing: I’ve sat in a van watching a herd of buffalo crossing the road. Not charging, but plodding. The massive, brown beasts were in no hurry whatsoever. Our vehicle’s presence — one of many on their turf — didn’t deter their leisurely pace.

Like the park where the buffalo roamed, we’re on God’s turf. He gets to choose the speed at which He responds to us. When the answers to our prayers seem sluggish, they aren’t sluggish to God. He’s always moving forward, fitting His answers into His perfect plans and His prefect timing.

Meteors: I’ve laid under the canopy of stars at 2 a.m. on a summer night. Surrounded by darkness, I turned my head from side to side, scanning the night sky. I saw one! A meteor, right where expected. More waiting brought more sightings of white light streaking across the sky.

Then, to my surprise, a fireball! That’s a meteor bigger and brighter than most. What a sight! I didn’t expect it!

We can’t call snow out of the heavens, hurry a herd of buffalo across the road, or wish meteors into view. Nor can we control God’s timing in His answers to our prayers. But even when they arrive at a snail’s pace rather than cheetah speed, God’s answers in God’s timing will always bring the best results.

— William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God and author of the God’s Billboards newsletter.