READING: Daniel 10-12
“Don’t be afraid.”
Daniel 10:12
I wish I could say that I’m a patient person. I’d love to say that I don’t get stressed when I’m waiting for an answer while the minutes become hours, and the hours become days. I can’t say either one, though. I like things done now, and I sometimes get into trouble when I act impulsively rather than wait wisely. Even with regard to prayer, I can get stressed when God doesn’t respond as quickly as I might like.
Then I read texts like Daniel 10:12-13 – “’Don’t be afraid, Daniel,’ he said to me, ‘for from the first day that you purposed to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your prayers were heard. I have come because of your prayers. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia opposed me for twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me after I had been left there with the kings of Persia.” Daniel had prayed for wisdom and understanding after seeing a vision, but an angelic/demonic conflict behind the scenes had delayed God’s response for 21 days. God answered Daniel’s prayer, but His timing was likely different than Daniel’s preferred timeline.
I am reminded today that much goes on in the spiritual arena that I cannot see. What appears to me to be an unnecessary delay in God’s response may well be a reflection of something far beyond my control. God will always defeat the enemy, though, so I must trust Him in the meantime.
ACTION STEPS:
- If you’re waiting on God to answer a prayer, trust Him when His timing is not yours. Don’t be afraid.
- Thank God that the enemy cannot defeat Him.
PRAYER: “God, help me to trust You while I’m waiting.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch up day
