I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear and will trust in the Lord. (Psalm 40:1-3)

Prayer Takes Patience

The timing of the Lord is always according to His eternal purpose and design. What makes it hard for the human heart is learning patience. There is a tendency to want things now, even when the expectation is from God. David knew that the Lord is not accountable to the time limits of human wisdom. When there is trouble, and the spirit of man cries out to God, the prayer of the impatient demands the Lord answer prayer as the petitioner desires in a timely manner. Often, a prayer demands action rather than accepting the will of the Father to answer in His time. That is why prayer requests are seldom realized.

Prayer is pleading the promises of God with a view in mind that God answers prayers according to His will. The problem arises when the heart is impatient and unwilling to accept God on His terms. David wants the prayerful heart to realize that when a man waits patiently on the Lord, God will listen. A trial of faith overshadowed David, and he cried to the Lord for help. He was in a horrible pit that was consuming him. There was no one to rescue him but the Lord. When he cried out, the Lord did not answer immediately. David trusted in the Lord to respond. When the answer came, it inspired David to proclaim the good news of righteousness in the great assembly.

Patience is the quality of waiting for the Lord to work His will in His way and in His time. A prayer life will be tested to accept how God answers. Prayers can be answered immediately but are more often at a time when the Lord chooses to reveal Himself. David knew the greatest lesson of prayer was to wait patiently for the Lord. Then, and only then, can he realize the true blessings received from the eternal hand of the Lord.

David’s patience was filled with the expectation of an answer. God always answers prayer. He never fails to answer a prayer from His child. David waited with an expectant heart that his petition would come at the pleasure of the Lord. David knew God would respond regardless of how long the answer would take. What he found in waiting for the Lord is a greater blessing than he imagined. Not only did the Lord bring him out of the pit and the miry clay, but God set the feet of David upon a rock and established his steps. The blessings of the Lord always outshine the request of the petitioner.

When a man develops a patient heart, he will see more of the blessings of God in his life. There is no reason to try and hurry God. Waiting on the Lord is the greatest challenge of prayer, but waiting on the Lord will bring the greatest blessings. Let the Lord work in His way for His purpose. That is how a child of God trusts in the wisdom of the heavenly Father. Like a child who depends upon their Father for everything, the Christian seeks the blessings of God with a patient heart. Pray – but be patient!