Wait Upon God
By Elvira Bujanda
Recently I found myself praying and waiting on God for an answer… for two years. As anxiety began to wedge itself into my thoughts, my heart felt hopeless. Lord, how could waiting be Your answer? And then, how can I be of good courage? But Philippians 4:6 says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” and I Thessalonians 5:17 says: “Pray without ceasing.”
So I decided: Lord, since I have no power of my own to maintain my spiritual life, I must take time daily and wait in Your Word, “for nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37). As I rested in the comfort of His presence, I felt a renewal of His grace through His Holy Spirit and His strength in my heart. It was the joy and power of God’s Holy Spirit that sustained my daily walk with Him. I had a heart desire: a part-time job. I had expressed my desire in faith, and carried my prayer to God, accepting His answer for a blessing. I read in Psalm 20:4: “May He give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” But there were still moments when I questioned my waiting upon God. Had my prayer been an effective prayer?
In Mark 11:24, Jesus assures us: “I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” I believed that God is a God of His promise, so I waited and waited on an answer from God. But it wasn’t until I gave it totally to the Lord in prayer, trusting and believing, that I was blessed with not just any job, but one that God had created just for me – all in His glorious timing and perfect design.
I had asked God for a Christian workplace close to home, and for hours that wouldn’t keep me from attending church and ministries. Now I’m working for a Christian boss, teaching children His Word in a daycare/preschool 15 minutes from my home. My hours allow me to attend church services on Wednesday, Thursday is my day off so I can go to women’s bible study, and on Fridays I can go to my HHM home Bible study. Even while I prayed, I never thought I would be teaching His Word and praying for the children, especially for special needs children. But God says: “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
During times of setback it’s especially difficult to keep waiting and trusting God for an answer to prayer for your heart’s desires. We may find ourselves unable to keep our eyes focused on what God is able to do, and so neglect to come to Him in prayer. We may even doubt that God will hear or answer our prayer, ever!But Psalm 27:14 says you must trust and keep a living faith in Him: “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: Wait, I say, on the Lord.”