So when we talk to God we expect the same response. An immediate answer to prayer. An instantaneous sign for the next step we are to take. But as we heard in church just a few weeks ago, God’s answer can sometimes be, “No, not right now.” Or those dreaded words, “Just wait.”

We hate the words waiting and patience. I think for many of us we automatically picture sitting in a line at the DMV (although that is probably more quickly paced these days too). We don’t want to wait. We don’t like not knowing. We don’t want to practice being patient.

You wanna talk about patience… how about 400 years of waiting?! God’s people waited 400 years for a Messiah and Savior to come. This time period is often called the “400 Years of Silence”.

But just because we don’t hear God (or sometimes we may just think we don’t hear Him), doesn’t mean we are alone or that He is not working. He does not move slowly; He moves perfectly. He works all things out for the good and He is walking alongside us all the while.

If you are feeling like you are stuck waiting, if you feel like your prayers are not being answered, if you feel like God is silent… open your Bible. Open His word and see how He works and how He is faithful in all He promises. If He has promised it, He will not fail or forget or withhold the good things He has planned for you.

But He may ask you to wait.

But in that waiting He is orchestrating, moving, shaping, and preparing the way for you. I read this verse from Exodus and it reminds me of His power and work behind the scenes:

“I will not drive them out before you in a single year; otherwise the land would become desolate and wild animals would multiply against you. Little by little I will drive them out ahead of you, until you become fruitful and possess the land.” (Exodus 23:29-30)

Don’t give up or assume your prayers are not heard because you don’t see the answer you want right when you want it. Trust in the Lord. Wait upon the Lord. And be patient for His perfect timing to bring about greater answers than you could ever even ask.

Because love is patient.