When God Says ‘Wait’

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"
Matthew 7:9-11 (NIV)

Have you ever asked God for something and heard nothing but silence?

I'm reminded of a young man in Mississippi who desperately wanted to pastor in Atlanta. He had served there before and felt certain this was God's will. But his phone never rang. The church never called. Months later, a different opportunity opened up–one that led to eighteen years of fruitful ministry.

That young man was me. I’m so grateful God told me “no” when I thought I knew what was best.

Sometimes God's "no" is actually His "wait" and His "wait" often leads to something better than you could have imagined.

In Matthew 7:9-11, Jesus makes this remarkable comparison: "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Your Heavenly Father always gives you not just what is good, but what is best. When He delays answering your prayer, it's not because He's ignoring you or punishing you. He’s working on something better for you. But the answer may not come in the ways you expect.

God answers prayer in three ways:

1. Direct answers (like immediately receiving what you asked for)
2. Delayed answers (like giving your child Hot Wheels because they’re not ready for a car)
3. Different answers (like when God closes one door to open a better one)

Whatever answer you receive, you can trust that your Father in heaven always gives what is best, at the right time, in the right way, for His glory and your good.

When was the last time God's "no" or "wait" turned into something better than you asked for? No matter what you’re waiting on God for right now, you trust His goodness in the waiting.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I praise You for teaching me how to pray and giving me the strength and courage to persevere. I believe that You always have my best interest at heart. I trust You in the waiting, Lord. In my life, Your timing has proved wiser than mine, and I praise You for it. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.