Heaven’s Response

There are moments when you pray and, deep down, you already have an idea of how the answer should come. You have imagined it, arranged it in your mind, and maybe even put a time to it.

By the time the answer finally comes but it does not look like what you expected, it can feel confusing, almost like your prayer has not been answered at all.

And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.

Judges 6:7 (KJV)

While reading the story of Gideon recently, something stood out to me in a way it had not before. The Israelites cried out to God for deliverance which was the first logical thing to do, because they were in distress.

Naturally, you would expect that God would step in immediately and remove their enemies in a remarkable way. Guess what? That’s not what happened first.

And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord because of the Midianites, that the Lord sent a prophet unto the children of Israel…

Judges 6:7–8 (KJV)

God answered their cry but not in the conventional way, He sent a prophet before anything else. Instead of instant rescue, He sent a message, He spoke His mind to them.

I was surprised because God had the power to save them instantly, yet He chose a process that began with communication.

Then God began to speak to Gideon about an assignment that would eventually become the answer to the very prayer the people had prayed.

And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might… have not I sent thee?

Judges 6:14 (KJV)

This reminded me that there is always a need attached to every call, no matter how small or unexpected it looks. Sometimes, you are praying for an answer, and at the same time, God is raising someone or even you, to become that answer.

So, when God responds, it may not always come in the form you imagined. It may come as a word, an instruction, a correction, a conversation, or even a responsibility you did not see coming.

 

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)

Dear reader, our God answers prayers, always. Never forget that the form of the answer is His to decide and sometimes, what feels like a delay or a detour is actually the beginning of a deeper and more intentional response than you expected. He is the ALL knowing God.

So, the next time you pray, stay open and pay attention to how the answer comes. Be sensitive. 

Shalom!