Spurgeon: December AM
* 12/09/AM
"Therefore will the Lord wait that He may be gracious unto you."
--Isaiah 30:18
God often DELAYS IN ANSWERING PRAYER. We have several
instances of this in sacred Scripture. Jacob did not get the
blessing from the angel until near the dawn of day--he had to
wrestle all night for it. The poor woman of Syrophenicia was
answered not a word for a long while. Paul besought the Lord
thrice that "the thorn in the flesh" might be taken from him,
and he received no assurance that it should be taken away, but
instead thereof a promise that God's grace should be sufficient
for him. If thou hast been knocking at the gate of mercy, and
hast received no answer, shall I tell thee why the mighty Maker
hath not opened the door and let thee in? Our Father has reasons
peculiar to Himself for thus keeping us waiting. Sometimes it
is to show His power and His sovereignty, that men may know that
Jehovah has a right to give or to withhold. More frequently the
delay is for our profit. Thou art perhaps kept waiting in order
that thy desires may be more fervent. God knows that delay will
quicken and increase desire, and that if He keeps thee waiting
thou wilt see thy necessity more clearly, and wilt seek more
earnestly; and that thou wilt prize the mercy all the more for
its long tarrying. There may also be something wrong in thee
which has need to be removed, before the joy of the Lord is
given. Perhaps thy views of the Gospel plan are confused, or
thou mayest be placing some little reliance on thyself, instead
of trusting simply and entirely to the Lord Jesus. Or, God makes
thee tarry awhile that He may the more fully display the riches
of His grace to thee at last. Thy prayers are all filed in
heaven, and if not immediately answered they are certainly not
forgotten, but in a little while shall be fulfilled to thy
delight and satisfaction. Let not despair make thee silent, but
continue instant in earnest supplication.