Help Is On The Way

I was reading my Bible last night, and came upon a passage in Daniel that reminded me of a rough patch in the past...and gave me hope for the one I am going through currently.

Do you ever fell like your prayers go unanswered? Or that God is for some reason withholding from you? 

There are times that I am dedicated to sincere, heartfelt prayer - and I'm not too vain to say that these times are often concurrent with a rather difficult trial. I want help/answers/relief, and I want it now!

After all, who likes to suffer?

I don't know why sometimes we get our prayers answered as almost as soon as they pass our lips, and sometimes it takes a while. A long while. 

It is not my job to know. Got is omniscient - He is all knowing. I certainly wouldn't want to be in charge of everything. Believe me, I try to handle it, but I quickly find that letting go was easier than holding on. 

So, back to the Daniel story. 

In Daniel chapter 10:10-14, Daniel had a visitor. Earlier in the chapter, to set up the story, Daniel explained in vs. 2-3 that "In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself till three whole weeks were fulfilled."

Daniel was at his lowest low, and he prayed, and fasted, and had great devotion to God. He also was very disciplined! By human standards, one would think his answer and relief would be immediate. 

It wasn't. 

That brings us back to vs. 10-14. Look at this:

10 Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. 11 And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling.

12 Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

Verse 12 is SO KEY! As soon as Daniel humbled humbled himself, his prayers were heard and answered IMMEDIATELY!

There was great spiritual warfare, though, and the forces of heaven joined to reach Daniel and encourage him.

I had a Pastor once tell me the Spiritual realm is much more real than the physical one - we go by the physical one because it's what we can understand with our physical senses. 

 It is so important to press into the Word, and to pray, because it puts our focus back on the Spiritual - we may not understand, but He does, and He will comfort us, assure us, strengthen us, and give us hope. 

If you are not getting immediate answers to your prayers, humble yourself.  

Then, realize there could be a lot going on behind the scenes in your behalf!

LAS