Chapter 27—Answers Sometimes Delayed
BIBLE GEM
CWG 67.1
QUESTION
CWG 67.2
ANSWER
Delays test faith and sincerity: “There are precious promises in the Scriptures to those who wait upon the Lord. We all desire an immediate answer to our prayers and are tempted to become discouraged if our prayer is not immediately answered.... They delay is for our special benefit. We have a chance to see whether our faith is true and sincere or changeable like the waves of the sea. We must bind ourselves upon the altar with the strong cords of faith and love, and let patience have her perfect work.”—Counsels on Health, 380, 381CWG 67.3
Delays give opportunity for heart-searching: “God does not always answer our prayers the first time we call upon Him; for should He do this, we might take it for granted that we had a right to all the blessings and favors He bestowed upon us. Instead of searching our hearts to see if any evil was entertained by us, any sin indulged, we should become careless, and fail to realize our dependence upon Him, and our need of His help.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 2:1035CWG 67.4
God does not forget: “Throughout his married life, Zacharias had prayed for a son. He and his wife were now old, and as yet their prayer had remained unanswered; but he murmured not. God had not forgotten. He had His appointed time for answering this prayer, and when the case seemed hopeless, Zacharias received his answer.... God had not forgotten the prayer of His servants. He had written it in His record book, to be answered in His own good time.”—Ellen G. White Comments, The S.D.A. Bible Commentary 5:1114CWG 67.5
God's delays always for our good: “Christ's two days’ delay after hearing that Lazarus was sick was not a neglect or a denial on His part.... This should be an encouragement to us.... The answer to our prayers may not come as quickly as we desire, and it may not be just what we have asked; but He who knows what is for the highest good of His children will bestow a much greater good than we have asked, if we do not become faithless and discouraged.”—Sons and Daughters of God, 92CWG 68.1
One answer never delayed: “When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, .... but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin.”—The Ministry of Healing, 70CWG 68.2
What to do if we do not see immediate answers to our prayers: “When our prayers seem not to be answered, we are to cling to the promise; for the time of answering will surely come, and we shall receive the blessing we need most.... God is too wise to err, and too good to withhold any good thing from them that walk uprightly. Then do not fear to trust Him, even though you do not see the immediate answer to your prayers. Rely upon His sure promise, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’ ”—Steps to Christ, 96CWG 68.3
SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT
CWG 68.4
CWG 68.5
CWG 68.6