God’s Not Yet

God’s Not Yet

God’s not yet. We’ve all been there, haven’t we?

Our prayer requests are good. We believe them to be godly. They aren’t necessarily selfish. We feel they align with God’s will and purpose. Yet, God sometimes answer our requests, with a not yet.

Frustrating, is it not?

Many examples in the Bible exist to show us that even saints of old received God’s not yet when they prayed.

One example that may easily come to mind this close to our recent celebration of Emmanuel’s birth, is how long the people waited for the promised Messiah. God had a plan. It was not yet.

Hannah desperately longed to give birth to a child. Again. God, in his perfect timing, said, not yet.

Still, when the events of history aligned, and at the right time, Hannah gave birth to her first child. The great prophet, Samuel.

Paul’s Not Yet

Then there is the Apostle Paul.

Paul wanted to visit the church in Rome. He longed to preach to the new congregation and see how they were doing. His request was a noble, God-honoring prayer. Paul wanted to meet the people in person. Not just by letter. He wanted to encourage and teach them more completely the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Even so, God told Paul not yet. This was a man of action. I imagine God’s not yet wasn’t what the apostle wanted to hear. His request was for godly purposes. Didn’t matter. God told Paul not yet.

Eventually, Paul did go to Rome. However, when Paul finally made the trip, (which was quite the adventure in itself), he went in chains as a prisoner. Paul’s life ended in Rome the day a soldier’s sword separated Paul’s head from his shoulders.

My Family’s Current Not Yet

Currently, my family is in a state of waiting on God’s not yet. I would love to tell you I am waiting well, but that isn’t always true. I try. Really. But some days I do better than other days.

This waiting business isn’t comfortable. In this particular instance, the cause of the wait wasn’t planned and came out of nowhere.

Truthfully? I’d much rather God move in with a YES! Sooner, rather than later, thank you very much.

I know he can. I trust he will. I’m just a little fuzzy on the how and when part.

Waiting

So, in the meantime, I keep praying. And I wait. I reach out to fellow prayer warriors and invite them to come alongside me as I boldly approach God’s throne of mercy and grace.

Then I wait some more. While I wait, I thank God for what he’s done. What he is doing. And what he will do.

As I wait on God’s not yet, I dive deep into his Word, remembering who he is and who he says I am in him. I hang onto God’s promise to never leave or forsake me; to walk through the fire and flood with me.

And I trust that when he says he has a plan to prosper and not for harm, he means it.

Regardless of how things might look at this moment in time, God is faithful to complete the good works he began.

Though the mountains should crumble and fall into the sea, God remains on his throne. He is in control. Nothing happens he didn’t plan or permit.

Your Turn

I wonder.

Do you think maybe God tells us not yet because we are not the one God has tapped to accomplish the thing we’re praying to receive?

Could it be that when God tells us not yet he has something better planned instead, and is working out all the details behind the scenes to complete it?

Or what if God is working on us through the not yet to draw us closer to him, change our heart, or change the heart of others?

Is it possible God’s not yet is because God is waiting for us to be ready to receive his yes?

Who knows?

Since we don’t know when God will answer our not yet prayers, let’s follow the Apostle Paul’s example. Let’s pray without ceasing. As we pray, let us continue to trust that however our God chooses to answer, it is the perfect answer at the perfect time.

Have do you handle your not yet prayers?

I want you to know, dear brothers, that I planned to come many times before (but was prevented) so that I could work among you and see good results, just as I have among the other Gentile churches. Romans 1:13 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy