Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Pastor’s Column, 2/27/06



If I am living in a state of repentance before God, and He has promised to answer prayer, and He has told us that “if we have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you” as it says in Luke 17:6 (KJV), then, why am I still sick, and still waiting for an answer to prayer?

Why does it seem that my prayer is going unanswered?

Oh, you may say, your problem is your faith. But I know that in me dwelleth not one good thing. I know I am sinful and unworthy. My only hope is Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I have no faith or hope in self, it is all in Christ, and Christ alone.

I think all believers wrestle with these thoughts from time-to-time.

The other morning, I noticed a phrase in Luke 18:7. It is the story of the persistent widow and the unjust judge. “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to him, though He bears long with them?”

Why would God bear long with His children and not just answer speedily, like the verse says? Perhaps, He desires to draw us closer to Himself in this time.

You know, God has everything, but He doesn’t have a close relationship with us, unless we, daily, yield our will to living in dependence upon Him. God loves when we live in total dependence on Him.

Perhaps, He is refining our relationship with Him and fitting us for eternity. God loves not just any fruit, but tree-ripened fruit that is produced by depending on His Son, the true vine.

God will answer speedily when all His purposes are accomplished. Rest in His promises.

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