What’s Happening When
Nothing Seems To Be
By Pastor Jack Hayford
How many times have you prayed, knowing full well that you have
put the matter before God in faith, resting upon His Word… and then
nothing happens?
Before long, a rash of possible explanations or procedures tempt
you:
Doubt—“Maybe God hasn’t heard me.”
Fear—“Maybe He has heard me, but doesn’t want to do anything about
it.”
Uncertainty—“Perhaps it isn’t God’s will (except I was so sure
when I prayed).”
Condemnation—“It’s probably because I don’t deserve an answer.
I’ve failed often enough that I can’t blame God for turning away
from me, occasionally.”
Haste—“I’ve waited long enough, I guess God just wants me to be
the answer. I’ll just barge into the situation on my own and do
my best.”
Presumption—“The key is to demonstrate my faith, so I’ll act like
everything has changed and treat the situation as though it were
accomplished.”
We live in an instant credit, get-everything-now economy. We eat
add-water-and-mix foods or drive by fast-food outlets which poke
our palates with immediate delicacies ranging from burgers and burritos
to fried chicken and fish ‘n’ chips. All of this trains us to want
what we want now on the basis of something that requires
little or nothing of us. We don’t grow trees in our yards, we buy
them potted and several years advanced in their growth—or move to
another house where they’re already grown.
Waiting is not in style, and patience has never been a forte of
the flesh.
But the Word of God has a great deal to say about “waiting.”
Sample some of the truth...
Indeed, let no one who waits on You be ashamed
Let those be ashamed who deal treacherously without cause ....
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
On You I wait all the day....
Let integrity and uprightness preserve me,
For I wait for You ....
Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!...
I will praise You forever,
Because You have done it;
And in the presence of Your saints
I will wait on Your name, for it is good....
O You his Strength, I will wait for You.
For God is my defense...
My soul, wait silently for God alone,
For my expectation is from Him
(Psalms 25:3,5,21; 27:14; 52:9; 59:9; 62:5).
These verses represent but a simple start on
the theme—and only from one book in the Bible. Try Psalm 69 for
size. Read of a heart crying for a long-awaited answer… and how
faith eventually rises in the face of fear, doubt, impatience, and
questioning.
If God wasn’t growing sons and daughters,
things would not take nearly as long. But since He is more interested
in our growth than He is in our getting, waiting becomes
a very essential and useful means toward that end. He doesn’t traffic
in add-water-and-mix saints, or in freezer-to-microwave-to-table
kids. He builds with neither plastic nor papier-mache.
What do you do, then, while you’re waiting?
Know that He isn’t teasing you.
Be confident that He takes no delight
in compelling you to wait. He is, rather, patiently overseeing your
life. He doesn’t want you to drown while you’re still learning to
swim.
Rest... for He wants you to trust Him.
When nothing seems to be happening, something
really is! You’re facing, a new opportunity for learning faith—the
kind that grows, not just “gets.”
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Jack
Hayford Ministries
14800 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, CA 91405-2233