December 9, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you." — Isaiah 30:18 · KJV

God often delays in answering prayer. We have several instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the blessing from the angel until near the dawn — he had to wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord three times that the thorn in the flesh might be taken from him, and received no assurance that it should be taken away, but instead a promise that God's grace would be sufficient for him. If you have been knocking at the gate of mercy and received no answer, shall I tell you why the mighty Maker has not opened the door and let you in? Our Father has reasons peculiar to Himself for keeping us waiting. Sometimes it is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know Yahweh has a right to give or to withhold. More often the delay is for our profit. You are perhaps kept waiting so that your desires may grow more fervent. God knows that delay will quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps you waiting, you will see your need more clearly and seek more earnestly, and prize the mercy all the more for its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in you that needs to be removed before the joy of the Lord is given. Perhaps your views of the gospel plan are confused, or you may be placing some little reliance on yourself, instead of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or God makes you tarry a while, that He may more fully display the riches of His grace to you at last. Your prayers are all filed in heaven; and if not immediately answered, they are certainly not forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to your delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make you silent, but continue instant in earnest supplication.