1. Too often we pray from a position that we actually think we know the answer – we just need God to come and do what we ask him. And then we simply cannot understand why God is acting so strangely. But we must understand that God has a different perspective: one that spans eternity, takes into account our limitations, encompasses our daily lives and the eternal future of the whole of humanity, and the complexity of the lives of 7,7 billion people, and how all of these are intertwined.
2. But didn’t God promise to answer? Aren’t his promises about prayer very straightforward? Yes, he promised and his promises are quite simple. He knows what to do. He cannot answer from our perspective. He can only answer from his perspective and in the way that he knows will be best. He is God: all-knowing, all-seeing, able to do all things to perfection. Only such a God can be trusted with our deepest prayers.
3. God answers all prayers. All of them. Sometimes God will say “no” or “wait”, but often we do not want to take it as a proper answer. It is especially the seemingly unanswered ones that trouble us. Normally two things happen when answers tarry to come: a) they come at an unexpected and perfect time or b) in hindsight, we, are relieved that he didn’t answer the way we asked or expected. So, when the answer doesn’t come immediately, there is a God-reason for it. Always. And when it comes, there is a God-perfected signature on it.
