Stepping Stones: How Long, Lord?

Transformational Tip

Have you ever said these words? “How long, Lord, until my prayer is answered?” How long until things get better? How long do You want me to do this without seeing results? How long do You want me to suffer? How long do I have to “just hang in there”?

When Joseph was sold into slavery and later spent years in prison, he must have asked, "How long, Lord?" When Moses led the Israelites around and around in the wilderness, he surely thought, "How long, Lord?" When Noah was ridiculed for 100 years while he built an ark on dry land, he must have wondered, "How long, Lord?" But each one of these godly heroes trusted God. They respected Him enough to continue obeying Him even when it seemed that all hope was gone.

Perhaps you are involved in a ministry that seems to go nowhere. And yet, you know the Lord wants you there. Maybe you have been praying for an unsaved loved one for many years. Or perhaps you have a business that just doesn't come together, but the Lord has led you to continue. Be encouraged to reverence God by continuing to obey him, even though you may wonder, "How long, Lord?"

Today, be confident that God loves you. Examine your life to see what situation or area you are getting impatient…frustrated…irritable. Make sure you are doing a good job with your part of the issue. Then accept God has a different timeline than you do. Touch someone’s life or learn the lesson He is teaching. The situation is in your life to grow you…that is God’s purpose for all that comes into your life. He has a perfect plan for you, we and others just keep messing it up. His timing is always perfect because it is His timing. Keep on, as Noah did, "doing all that God commands."

Click here to share with the Stepping Stones community your perspective waiting on Your Lord.

Prayer
Oh Father, Lord, help me honor You by trusting You and being willing to wait on You. Even though I get discouraged at times, help me remember that You are in control and that Your way is the best way, Your timing is the best timing. Help me be patient and show the world I am willing to wait on You, Lord. Thy kingdom come, not my kingdom come. I really don’t want to take over responsibility for the whole world, even though sometimes I act like it. I pray this and all prayers for the one who demonstrated perfect timing, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say - AMEN!

The Truth
I patiently waited, LORD, for you to hear my prayer. You listened and pulled me from a lonely pit full of mud and mire. You let me stand on a rock with my feet firm, and you gave me a new song, a song of praise to you. Many will see this, and they will honor and trust you, the LORD God.
Psalm 40:1-3
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5