This week we continue looking to the Scriptures to learn how to position ourselves while waiting for the manifestation of what we are believing for. Daniel’s experience reminds us that God’s response can be immediate even when its manifestation takes time. We read, “From the very first day that you set your heart to understand and to humble yourself before God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days” (Daniel 10:12-13). Some delays can involve spiritual warfare, reminding us that what we see in the natural realm is not the fullness of reality.
This is why it is crucial for us to understand what to do between receiving by faith and seeing the manifestation. The Lord Jesus taught, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11:24). We receive by faith when we pray, even before the answer becomes visible. And while we wait, we must guard both our hearts (Proverbs 4:23) and our confession. Discouragement and uncertainty can tempt us to speak contrary to what we have believed God for, but Scripture instructs us to remain resolute, “holding fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). We know that God has already “blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3), so our words must remain aligned with His promises, even when circumstances appear contrary.
There will also be times when we do not understand why an answer seems delayed or how we should pray about a particular situation. In such moments, we can inquire of the Lord by praying in the Holy Spirit. The Apostle Paul teaches that the one who speaks in a tongue “speaks not to men but to God … in the spirit he speaks mysteries” (1 Corinthians 14:2). He also reminds us that “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26). Praying in the Spirit allows us to continue seeking God beyond the limits of our natural understanding and remain sensitive to His wisdom and direction concerning a matter.
As we seek the Lord’s direction, we must be willing to submit to His guidance, rather than forcing our own way. Scripture instructs us, saying, “let the peace of God to rule in your hearts” (Colossians 3:15). As we pray, God’s peace can serve as an internal witness, helping us discern whether we are moving in alignment with His will. Our hearts must also be yielded enough to receive His instructions, because sometimes the manifestation we are waiting for requires our cooperation through obedience. We see this in the account of the widow of Zarephath in 1 Kings 17. During a severe famine, the prophet Elijah gave her a grace instruction that required faith: she was to use what little she had to prepare food for him first. When she obeyed, she experienced God’s supernatural provision (vs.8-16). What appears to be a delay may sometimes involve an instruction we have not yet followed or a step of faith we have not yet taken. We must therefore remain receptive to God’s direction and willing to obey, even when the instruction does not make sense from a natural perspective.
Saints, we may not always understand why an answer is delayed, but we can remain confident that God is faithful. There may be time between receiving by faith and seeing the manifestation, but that waiting does not mean God has forgotten us. Let us therefore guard our hearts, hold fast to our confession, and persevere in prayer. As Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Hallelujah!
Prayer
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness, even in seasons of waiting when the manifestation of what we are trusting You for seems delayed. Teach us to allow Your peace to rule in our hearts, and to hold fast to our confession of faith without wavering. Help us pray in the Spirit when we do not know how to pray, and to trust Your wisdom and timing until we see the manifestation of what You have promised. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
