“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:26.

Waiting is not easy, and waiting quietly is harder. It tests our patience like nothing else. When I look back, God answered many of my prayers. I kept a prayer journal in my life. It is fun to go back and check and see the prayers God already answered. Had I not kept a prayer journal, I would not have the joy of witnessing the wonder-working power of prayers. You see, sometimes our heartaches and pour our hearts to the Lord. Then we move on. We may not look back at the incident as life progress. However, a prayer journal helps us go back and see how God faithfully answered our prayers. It deepens our faith and confidence in prayer and the Lord, who answered the prayers.

However, I have unanswered prayers in my life as well. But my answered prayers are more than the unanswered ones. I am sure you would have the same experience.  I need to admit there is a special request I was praying for many years now. God has not answered that special prayer, which was near to my heart so far. Why didn’t He answer that prayer, when many others are answered? I do not know. Still, I can trust the Lord, who answered the other prayers because my prayer journals are the living testimony that God hears my cry when I kneel and pray.

You see, when you think about it, God is not obligated to answer all your prayers even though you feel like you prayed for a genuine need that would bring glory to God, does He? God said, and it is reported in the Bible in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declared the LORD. Then he says this, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Listen, Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, says, “there is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.” The way that appears to be right may not be suitable for you in the opinion of the Lord, who knows all the details.

You can’t see the future. However, God can see the consequences and future results. Therefore, if God closes a door with his all-knowing, all-loving hand, do not be perplexed. Do not try to push open the doors manually with your hand, either. Let God has His way in your life. It is ultimately for your good only, although you may not see it as useful at present.

Always, you can trust the heart of God. As a child of God, when you pray in the name of His Son Jesus, who loved you, died, and rose again to save you, heaven takes the matter and its responsibility seriously. God, the Father, never approves something that would harm you and your spiritual growth in Him. Therefore, even though I did not answer for a special prayer request, I made up my mind to continue living in faith and giving honor to Him, until you depart from here to His presence. One day in the future, you will understand why God did not approve your request. That day could be on this side of eternity, or it could very well be in eternity. The Lord, who loves you, would not approve something that has the potential to harm you and your spiritual life and growth.

Our insight says, “It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” This verse is recorded in the Bible amid the severe and harsh experiences of Judah’s national failure (then the southern kingdom of Israel), due to their continuous disobedience and rebelliousness against the loving Lord. Prophet Jeremiah says, even though all darkness and hopelessness around them, “it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” If you do, God will prove himself entirely faithful and trustworthy with time, when you turn to Him in repentance. Why? Verse 22 to 24 says The LORD’s steadfast love would not let you perish. His mercies are new every morning; Great is His faithfulness. The Lord is your portion. Therefore put your hope in Him. He will come through with loving-kindness and deliverances in surprising ways you never imagined.

“Father in heaven, I kneel down and pray to you, almighty God. I pray for your help and deliverance from the heart aching issue I am faced with. I give the matter in your hand, Lord. Your said your mercies are new every morning. Your faithfulness is great and you are my portion. Therefore I put my hope in you Lord. Please send me your deliverance and bless with your peace and grace. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”