If there is any truth affirmed in the Bible, one of those truths must be this one—God answers our prayers. Before Jesus left the earth He told His disciples, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you” (John 16:23). The apostle John heard Jesus say these words, obviously practiced them and years later affirmed, “Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight” (1 John 3:22).
Sometimes we fail to appreciate these truths because we think we know precisely how God should answer our prayers and precisely when He should do it. To help us understand these matters better consider the following illustration.
When Paul was headed to Jerusalem to deliver to the Jewish congregations those contributions made by the Gentile churches, he met with the elders from Ephesus. He told them that as he had traveled toward the holy city, time and again, prophets had foretold what would happen. He said, “The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me” (Acts 20:23).
At this same time he wrote to the church at Rome and told them of his plans. “Now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints….When I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain” (Rom. 15:23,28). Yet there was this problem. How could chains and tribulations await him, and at the same time he promised the Romans he would come to see them. The answer lies in looking at what he added in his comments to Rome. “I beg you, brethren,…that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me…That I may come to you with joy by the will of God” (Rom. 15:30-32).
So both Paul and the Roman Christians were praying that he some how might go to Jerusalem and come to Rome. Now God answers prayers, but often not in the “how” or “when” we think. You know the story. Paul went to Jerusalem and was arrested and spent more than two years as a prisoner (Acts 24:27) before he arrived in Rome. God answered those prayers in God’s own way.
So the next time you are praying about a matter and you cannot see God moving to answer you, just remember that we simply are unable to understand precisely how or when He will keep His promise.