Last week we spoke about how Elijah, the prophet of GOD, was surprised by the sudden death of the widow’s son. Elijah was confused and did not understand what was going on, but his response to the widow was,”Give me your son.” Elijah did not know all of the details but he knew who did, and immediately took the circumstance to HE who knows all.
The text states that Elijah stretched himself out and cried out to the LORD three times. Now, one may think that since Elijah was a man of GOD and since he was a prophet of GOD that if GOD was going to answer Elijah he would have done so on the first prayer. I mean, GOD used ravens to feed Elijah and through the mouth of Elijah GOD sustained the handful of flour and the little oil in the jar. If GOD did these great things to and through Elijah, surely Elijah is “in” enough to get a response from GOD on his first prayer. Right?
Well, no, this is not the case. There is not a “method” to the timetable of GOD answering your prayers. My exhortation is that you pray until you get an answer (Some have coined the acronym P.U.S.H. for these situations: Pray Until Something Happens). At the same rate, just because GOD did not answer your prayer when you first prayed, does not necessarily mean that your relationship with HIM is in jeopardy.
I know how we get sometimes, we think because GOD is not operating on our time schedule that we must be outside of HIS love and HE is somehow at odds with us. The fact of the matter is that HE is GOD and HE does not jump when we say jump. We humbly go before HIM asking (not telling). Which means HE could say no, or HE could not say anything, to see how you respond—to give you an opportunity to exhibit faith—to grow your faith and patience.
If you are in CHRIST you are in good standing with GOD and not at odds with HIM because CHRIST has pleased the FATHER, therefore, those who are in CHRIST have pleased the FATHER as well. Your relationship with GOD is not based off answered prayer, it is based on the blood of CHRIST.
GOD says that HE bears long with HIS own elect but HE will answer, and man should pray and not lose heart, and that is directly related to faith (Luke 18:1-8). Elijah could have lost heart after HE prayed the first time and received no answer, but HE didn’t. Why? It’s because Elijah had faith. Elijah was fully confident in who GOD was and HIS ability to restore life. Elijah was fully confident in who GOD was and HIS willingness to extend mercy. So Elijah prayed and did not lose heart The first time, no answer. The second time, no answer. The third time…
Grace and peace brethren.
