Are You Willing to Wait on Jehovah? -WHEN DO WE NEED TO WAIT ON JEOVAH?

We may need to wait for our prayers to be answered.  When we pray for strength to deal with a trial or for help to overcome a weakness, we my feel that the relief we are seeking is taking longer than we had hoped.  Why does Jehovah not answer all our prayers right away?

Jehovah listens carefully to our prayers. (Psalm 65:2) He views our sincere prayers as evidence to our faith.  (Hebrews 11:6)  Jehovah is also interested in seeing how determined we are to live in harmony with our prayers and to do his will.  (John 3:22) So we may need to show patience and work along with our prayers whenever we are trying to overcome a bad habit or a weakness.  Jesus implied that some of our prayers  might not be answered immediately. He urged: "Keep on asking, and it will given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking, and it will be opened to you; for everyone else  asking receives, and everyone seeking finds , and to everyone knocking, it will be opened." (Matthew 7:7, 8)  When we follow this advice and "persevere in prayer," we can be confident that our heavenly Father hears us and will answer our prayers. 

Although an answer to a prayer may seem to be delayed, Jehovah promises to answer our prayer "at the right time."  (Hebrews 4:16.)  That is why we must never blame Jehovah if something does not happen as quickly as we think it should.  For example, many have been praying for years to see God's Kingdom bring an end to this system of things. Jesus even said that we should pray for this. (Matthew 6:10) But how foolish  it would be if someone allowed his faith in God to weaken because the end did not come when humans expected it.  (Habakkuk 2:3; Matthew 24:44)  We are wise to keep waiting on Jehovah and praying to him in faith.  The end will come at exactly the right time, for Jehovah has already chosen the "day and the hour" for it to arrive. And that day will prove to be the best time for all. -  MATTHEW 24:36; 2 PETER 3:15.

Note: Always remember that Jehovah's time is not ours.  And He may not answer our prayers the same way  all the time, he may give us a solution in how to solve our problem. 

We may need to be patient while waiting for Justice to be done.  People in this world often mistreat those who are of different gender, race, ethnicity, tribe, or nationality. Others are mistreated because of having physical or mental disabilities.  Many of Jehovah's  people have endured injustice because of their Bible-based beliefs.  When we are wronged  in such ways, we must keep in mind Jesus' words. He said: "The one who has endured to the end will be saved."  (Matthew 24:13)   But what if you become aware of serious wrongdoing by someone in the congregation?  After the elders have been informed of the matter, will you leave it in their hands, patiently waiting on them to care for it in Jehovah's way?  What might be involved?

Next time: Are You Willing to Wait on Jehovah? -  Conclusion of  WHEN DO WE NEED TO WAIT ON JEHOVAH?

From the jw.org publications