If God Says "Wait" Don’t Worry - Just Pray! Series

If God Says "Wait" Don’t Worry - Just Pray!

In this world, there are people who welcome change and people who resist change.

There are those who like to maintain the Status Quo, and others who seek change for the sake of change.

There are many things in this world that we cannot change. But... and here is the question ...

If there was one thing you could change in your life what would it be?

Have you prayed about it?

If there was one thing you could change in your family what would it be?

Have you prayed about it

If there was one thing you could change in this community what would it be?

Have you prayed about it?

If there was one thing you could change in this world what would it be?

Have you prayed about it?

Over the years there may be many prayers that you have prayed asking God to change a situation or circumstance.

There will have been times when it felt like God responded quickly to your prayer.

Perhaps other times when you became anxious because it felt like God was ignoring your prayer.

And maybe even times when it felt like your prayers were just bouncing off the ceiling

or you felt like banging your head against a wall.

Ever felt like that?

The truth is that God always answers our prayers, in one of three ways, Yes, No and Wait, not yet.

We should be happy when God says Yes.

We are probably disappointed when He says No.

But when God says “Wait” that is perhaps the hardest for us to deal with.

We know that God’s timing is perfect.

We know that God has a perfect plan for us.

We know that God loves us and cares for us.

But if we don’t get an instant answer,

we ignore everything we know about God’s promises,

we ignore everything we know about God’s nature and we worry,

we lose our peace, we lose our patience,

And when that happens we can often try to change the situation in our own strength instead of relying on God.

Tonight, my purpose is to encourage you to do three things,

Trust in the God’s perfect plan for you,

Trust in God’s perfect purpose for you,

Trust in God’s perfect timing.

Jeremiah 29:11 says “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We can choose to worry or we can choose to trust God, and I believe that Trusting God is the better option.

Relying on His grace,

His mercy,

His wisdom,

His love,

His will,

His strength,

His priorities,

His plan for my life and your life,

His promises...

God is faithful.

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Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.”

We may not understand why God allows certain things to happen in our lives but we need to remember He is the potter and we are the clay!

There are times when God allows things to come into our lives to mold us and shape us for His glory.

When it feels like circumstances are against us,

we need to remember His promises -

His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.

We need to choose to trust Him.

In Philippians 4:6,7 the Apostle Paul wrote these words: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Don’t worry about anything.

Does that describe how you live Or do you Worry about everything?

In life, all of us at different times have something to worry about don’t we?

Will I pass my exam?

Will I get to work on time?

Did I remember to lock the door?

Did I remember to put the cat out?

Should I buy a cat so that I have one to put out?

Do you fill your mind with thoughts of what could happen?

Are your thoughts filled with If’s, but’s and maybe’s?

Looking back, how many times have you worried about what might happen only to discover that it didn’t happen?

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.

If we allow ourselves to focus on worry, we take our focus off of God and His perfect plan for us.

The Apostle Paul tells us not to waste time worrying, we are to take everything to God in prayer.

Circumstances and situations can drag us down, But prayer to God can lift us up.