The desperate cry of Christians might be: “How long, Lord?” This kind of earnest prayer might be the cry of many godly people. These godly people might have been so troubled by what they have seen or faced in life. After crying to God earnestly day and night, their situation might not improve but deteriorate instead. They might feel that God has not listened to their prayer. They might become so devastated. This might be the common phenomenon godly Christians face in this corrupted world.
Prolonged unanswered prayer is very frustrating. Waiting for divine intervention can drive one mad! Prophet Habakkuk has faced this situation in his ministry. He saw violence everywhere. He pleaded God to bring salvation to His people. He waited for an answer but God did not reply. He became impatient with God and cried, “How long, O Lord, must I call for help but You do not listen?”
God listened to the cry of Habakkuk for help. He answered every earnest prayer of His righteous people. Habakkuk was a righteous and godly prophet. He interceded faithfully for the salvation of his sinful and rebellious people with great perseverance. God replied his earnest cry. In Habakkuk 1:5, the Lord Almighty answered the cry of Habakkuk:
“Look at the nations and watch – and be utterly amazed. For I am going to
do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.”
The answer of God was beyond what Habakkuk could ever think of or imagine. God was raising the surrounding nations to punish his rebellious and immoral people. His way of solving Habakkuk’s prayer was beyond what he could understand.
Habakkuk was wrong to accuse God for not listening to his prayer. Habakkuk has a problem. He was so overwhelmed with the evil deeds of his people. He was so troubled by them. He lacked spiritual discernment. He did not discern the answer of God for his cry. He also lacked of watchfulness in his prayer. He did not notice the amazing things God was working among the nations. He had limited understanding of what God can do. He did not expect God could do more than what he expected. He would not be in despair and impatient with God if he had gained a heart of understanding and insight into the amazing things that God could do.
God hears our desperate cry for help. His answer might not be what we expect. He can do much more than what we ask for. In His infinite wisdom, He knows what is the best answer for every situation. We will not be despair or impatient with God if we gain an insight or understanding of His infinite wisdom in solving our problem according to His way and timing.
If you are facing the same problem as Habakkuk, can we come together and pray the following prayer in faith:
Our loving and faithful Father God,
I come to Your throne of grace. I acknowledge that Your wisdom is infinite. I need You. I know that You have heard my prayers ever since I prayed to You. Please give me spiritual discernment to discern Your answer for my life situation. Open my eyes to see the amazing things You are working in my life situation. Please help me to be watchful while I am interceding for the problem I face in life. Please give me a heart of understanding and insight into what you are doing in my life situation. Increase my faith to see the great and amazing things You are working in my life situation for our good.
In Christ’s name,
Amen
Pastor Sarah
Category: cf_ps, cf_tht
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