Patient Waiting

By Paul Chappell

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD."

Psalm 40:1-3

When Hudson Taylor went to China, he made the voyage on a sailing vessel. As it neared the channel between the southern Malay Peninsula and the island of Sumatra, the missionary heard an urgent knock on his stateroom door. He opened it, and there stood the captain of the ship. "Mr. Taylor," he said, "we have no wind. We are drifting toward an island where the people are heathen, and I fear they are cannibals."

Taylor agreed to pray for wind. He wrote later that after a few minutes of praying he was so certain of the answer that he thought there was no need to pray any longer. So Taylor went up to the deck of the ship. He told the first mate to let down the sails. When the man protested that there was no wind, Taylor told him it was coming. The man reluctantly gave the order, and in moments the wind began to blow and stayed with them until they reached their destination.

When we ask God for His help, it is important that our faith remains firm. Whether the answer comes quickly or after the passage of time, we must trust that God knows not only what we need but also when we need it. He is never late according to His timetable. Since He is God and we are not, we must remain patient if He does not work quickly. And even before the wind begins to blow, you can be confident in His answer.

Today's Rooted Principle:

As you pray, remember to trust God both for the answer and for His timing for the answer.