Experiencing Weariness in the waiting
When, Lord?
Have you ever felt like the Lord favors others more than He favors you? You watch as others receive the answers to their prayers—blessing after blessing—making them seem highly favored. Meanwhile, you wonder if maybe they’re doing everything right and you’re not, because all you’ve been experiencing for so long is trouble and trials.
You’ve prayed, fought the good fight, and believed. You’ve done everything you know to do, yet your life still feels like a mess. After everything you’ve endured, maybe you’ve even considered giving up on the Lord because it’s been too long. You start to wonder if He has favorites… and if He’s forgotten all about you.
But let me tell you, my friend, I’ve been in that place too. I know exactly how you feel, and I’m here to remind you that God loves you—and that is simply not the case. What helped me break free from that mindset, which was keeping me spiritually stuck, was gaining a deeper understanding of God’s Word. The revelation of Scripture gave me the hope and strength I desperately needed to navigate the storms and wait on the Lord’s perfect timing with peace.
Going Through Spiritual Weariness
Recently, I had the opportunity to hear a message that opened my spiritual eyes to see that there is always a divine purpose in our waiting. God’s timing is perfect—even when we don’t understand it.
As I listened, it felt like a lightbulb turned on, shining truth on a situation I’m currently facing—one that had been starting to shake my faith.
For a long time, I’ve been praying, believing, and waiting on the Lord for several things to happen in my life. But after years of waiting with no change—if anything, things are beginning to look impossible—I started to feel hopeless and discouraged. If I’m being completely honest, I was reaching the point of resenting the Lord for not answering my cry. I was seriously considering giving up on my prayers and the promises I thought I had received from Him.
I felt depleted, with no strength or desire to keep praying and fighting for my promise. The spiritual weariness I was experiencing was negatively impacting my faith.
The Erroneous Mindset
In my limited understanding, I had set my own timeline for God to answer my prayers. And because years had passed with no breakthrough, I started to believe that maybe He was never going to answer me at all.
I questioned whether I had misunderstood His promises. Maybe what I had been believing for wasn’t His will for my life after all. Maybe I needed to let go of those prayers completely and just move on.
Have you ever felt weary and hopeless, wondering if the Lord will ever answer your prayer?
The good news is that when the Lord revealed the truth to me, a burden was lifted off my shoulders. My strength was renewed for the waiting I still have ahead.
The Story of Zechariah
The message that changed my perspective on answered prayers focused on the story of Zechariah in Luke 1. There is a powerful truth in this biblical account that we should all meditate on.
Zechariah was a priest, married to Elizabeth—who was also Mary’s cousin. The Bible tells us that they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all His commandments and statutes. Yet, despite their faithfulness, they had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in years.
One day, while Zechariah was serving in the temple, an angel appeared to him with a message from the Lord:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17)
Wow! The Lord answered Zechariah’s prayer in a powerful way—so much so that He sent the angel Gabriel to deliver the news! And yet, Zechariah doubted the Lord and was left mute until the promise was fulfilled.
Debunking the Lie That God Doesn’t Answer Our Prayers
Like me, Zechariah probably set his own time frame for the Lord to answer his petition. He must have prayed for a child for years, expecting a miracle. But when Elizabeth grew too old to conceive, he likely assumed that God had never answered his prayer. So, he gave up hope.
Then, when God finally did answer, Zechariah doubted. He couldn’t fathom how it was possible at that stage of life. But God had heard his prayers all along—He just didn’t answer in the time frame that made sense to Zechariah.
God’s Perfect Plan
God wasn’t withholding Zechariah’s prayer—He had a greater plan. John the Baptist’s birth had to come at an appointed time because his divine assignment was to prepare the way for Jesus. God’s ways, thoughts, and plans are always higher than ours.
Something else to consider: in Zechariah’s time, the priesthood was inherited. If Zechariah had a son earlier, he would have raised him to follow in his footsteps as a priest. But John wasn’t called to be a priest—he was called to be a prophet!
God had to prepare Zechariah so he could understand John’s calling before he was born. When the angel appeared, he revealed key details about John’s destiny. And I believe that during those nine months of silence, Zechariah must have spent significant time in God’s presence, seeking understanding about the miracle of his son. God used that season to equip him to raise John according to His divine purpose.
The answer to Zechariah’s prayer wasn’t just about giving him the desire of his heart. John had a kingdom assignment, and Zechariah needed to be prepared to steward that promise well.
Are You Waiting on God to Answer Your Prayer?
Many times, we don’t understand why God delays in answering our prayers. The waiting can feel long, and we can grow weary. But let’s remember this:
God always hears our prayers and answers them at the appointed time.
We cannot put a timeline on the Lord. His timing is best, according to His perfect plan.
God’s answers serve a higher purpose, beyond what we can see.
The waiting is a preparation season—God is equipping us to steward His blessings well.
Let’s rejoice in knowing that just as God fulfilled His promise to Zechariah, He also wants to do the same for you and me. In the waiting, God is working behind the scenes. He is a good Father who listens, cares, and desires to give us His very best!
Much love,
Jackie