From: Beverly French [frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us]
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 7:05 PM
To: Heritage
Subject: Feb 20, 2005 Greetings

"How long O Lord?  Will You forget me forever?..."  Psalm 13:1

The New King James Version titles this Psalm of David, "The Prayer for God's
Answer -- Now".  Does that sound like something you may have demanded -- 
answer to prayer NOW?  Seeing it written out like that does come as a shock,
that a child of God would speak thus to our heavenly Father.  It does so
especially in the light of His word that tells us:
"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
 Neither are your ways My ways,' declares the Lord" Isaiah 55:8
 And in Romans 11:33,
"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How
unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!"

Because God is omniscient He knows all our needs and our wants. He knows
what would be for our good and what would cause us harm.  Since He is a
loving Father He takes all the time that is needed to accomplish His purpose
in us.  And He tells us what that purpose is in Romans 8:29,
"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the
image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren."

So in the process of conforming us we will surely meet with divine delays -- 
to exercise our faith and to develop courage and patience. Scripture reveals
the heart's cry of those waiting,

"I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched;
 My eyes fail while I wait for my God."  Psalm 69:3

"My eyes fail with longing for Thy word,
 While I say, 'When wilt Thou comfort me?"  Psalm 119:82

Go on in these Psalms and see that the Psalmist ends with praises and hope
in the Mighty God.  Courage,  patience and trust are being developed.

In John 11 we see divine delay as Jesus waits two days before going to
Bethany.  Read the whole account.
"When therefore He heard that he (Lazarus) was sick, He stayed there two
days longer in the place where He was."  Vs. 6
Then in verse 21 we hear Martha's complaint at the delay,
"Martha therefore said to Jesus, 'Lord if You  had been here my brother
would not have died.'"
The purpose of the delay was to the glory of God and the result was that
many who were there believed in Jesus.

James relates the waiting to being patient as the farmer waits for the
harvest as we see in 5:7,
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the
farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it
until it receives the early and latter rain."

Peter encourages us as in 2 Peter 3:9 (here he is talking of the return of
the Lord, but it is true as well as we wait for answered prayer).
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is
patient toward you..."

Do not forget Isaiah 30:18 for it tells us:
"Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
 And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you.
 For the Lord is a God of justice;
 How blessed are all those who wait on Him."

So in our waiting on the Lord let us wait with expectation, hope, trust and
courage knowing that our gracious and loving Lord does all things well -- 
His answers and His timing are perfect.  Hallelujah!
Praise His glorious name forever!  Amen.