Prayer: heard, answered - delayed

“Don’t be afraid Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God (ie prayer), your words were heard, and I have come in response to them (answered). But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted (delayed) me twenty one days….” Daniel 10:12-13 (NIV) 

The book of Daniel is full of examples of Daniel praying to God about situations he found himself dealing with; praying for understanding, for wisdom, and for Gods help. As we read through Daniel we see that sometimes his prayers were answered straight away - and sometimes the answer was delayed. 

It has been said that God ALWAYS answers prayer (and he does), but sometimes his answer is “yes”, sometimes it’s “no” – and sometimes its “not yet”. 

It’s when we are in the “not yet” that we can find it tough to accept that God has heard, AND has answered.  

We live in a “microwave” society – we want, expect, even demand, instant answers, instant solutions, instant provision for situations we find ourselves trying to cope with - so when we are faced with one of God’s “not yet” seasons we can struggle with that. On one hand we believe God is a good God and is a God who answers prayer – but on the other hand our prayers seem to be left unheard, unanswered. 

So what has today’s scripture got to say to us about these “not yet” times in life. 

There are 3 key truths in this verse that are important for us to hang on to. 

• God HEARS our prayers 

• God ANSWERS our prayers 

• Answers can be DELAYED 

This is not saying the God isn’t omnipotent (all powerful), or that God is subject to Satan and his evil angels, BUT it does remind us of what Paul tells us in Ephesians 6:10-19, that we are all involved in a battle against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 

Jesus told us that he came to bring us life, but Satan wants the exact opposite – to steal kill and destroy (John 10:10). By delaying answers to prayer, he is trying to get us to lose hope, lose our confidence in the truth that God does hear and answer our prayers. 

Reflection  - Is there something that you have prayed for, but not received an answer? When our prayers seem to be unanswered, it’s important to not lose hope, to not give up, but keep praying and keep believing that God has heard and has answered. 

Have you given up? – or are you still praying, still expecting, still believing that God can and will answer.  

— Ian Wood

Together Prayer: Revival and Renewal (personal and global)