“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer.” Daniel 10:12

I know this might seem like an odd scripture for me to use to talk about something that we all face today, but it is rather fitting. I want us to get honest and real with ourselves today. Forget trying to be super-spiritual, and allow God to speak His truth into your spirit. He wants you to come before Him just as you are so that you can continue to grow and be challenged in your walk with Him. So let’s take a walk with our Savior.

How many times have you prayed about something and then began to wonder where God was in all of it? If I wanted to seem like I had it all together, then I would tell you…NEVER, but that’s not where I live. I live in the difficult day-to-day just like you, so my “real” person answer would be on a daily (and honestly speaking – moment by moment) basis.

There have been so many times in my life where I have prayed about something just hoping that God would answer me instantaneously. I never doubted that He could answer in that fashion, but for some reason I could never figure out, God decided to delay and even change the outcome of how I had prayed. He did things in a totally different time frame and way than I would have worked it out. In the end, God’s way was always the best way for me even though in the waiting it sure didn’t feel that way.

With that being said, my scenario is very similar to the one that we read about in the life of Daniel. God clearly tells Daniel that He heard him the very first time that he prayed, but yet his prayer was blocked for 21 days due to some demonic forces working against Daniel. Now I don’t know the reason why God allowed this to go on for 21 days because He had the power to stop it, but He chose not to. I’m sure that the 21 day period was a faith builder for Daniel. I don’t want to speculate here for too long because there is much more truth that I’m wanting to grasp here.

I begin to wonder just what was running through Daniel’s mind and thoughts as he was waiting on God. Did He get impatient? Did He wonder if God was going to come through? Did He wonder if following Him was all a huge mistake? The Bible doesn’t tell us, but I’m sure that Satan put those thoughts in his mind. Why do I say that? I say that because Daniel was a person living out his calling just like you and I. He battled the same things we do. Now I do believe that Daniel chose to take those negative and discouraging thoughts captive instead of dwelling on them. He allowed his joy and love for God to carry him through on those days when it seemed as if God was silent.

So if you’re in the middle of waiting as you’ve prayed and cried out to God, then don’t give up. It might seem like He is silent and not present in your situation, but He is. He has heard you. He has heard every silent cry that you’ve shouted out to Him as you were patently (and sometimes not so patiently) waiting. He sees and is aware of every time that you wanted to give up, but didn’t. He knows about that longing in your heart for something that you’ve been holding out hope and faith for, but still haven’t seen it come to pass. His timing is not your timing. There is purpose in everything He does. It doesn’t mean that every purpose is going to seem pleasant at the time. In fact, it may break our heart, but God brings beauty out of those painful places in our lives. He is perfecting something so valuable out of these waiting seasons.

Don’t be afraid, my friend! If only you could see where God is going with this! Until He brings you out, praise Him. He knows and is aware of it all. Just relax, breathe, and enjoy your journey all along the way for one day you will look back and realize just how all of this fit together. Each part creating a kaleidoscope of color so brilliant that it does nothing but reflect a vast array of beauty from our loving Heavenly Father. Just rest. You have been heard!