God Hears You and He’ll Answer

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer;  and while they are still speaking, I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24 (NKJV)

I had been house hunting for months.  As I drove to another showing, my anticipation increased.  This house checked off all my boxes.  Less than ten minutes away from meeting my Realtor, God spoke, “You never asked me where I want you to live.”  I was stunned. I turned off my radio and drove shocked, blown away by this acknowledgement.  Not fifteen seconds later, my Realtor called, she had arrived at our destination. Her message was short, “The seller’s agent just called, the house is no longer available, last night, the seller accepted another contract.”  This was immediate confirmation of the message the Lord had just given me. While I drove home deflated, the words of the Lord still lingered. I now had just one question, “Lord, where do you want me to live?” 

As I continued to house-hunt with no success, remembering to ask this question of the Lord, impatience crept in. I fought back the frustration which tried to settle in my mind that God was taking too long. Then He used one specific event to settle my heart and give me the peace I needed to wait patiently on Him to answer my prayers for a new home.

I had been asked to present at a marriage retreat held in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  While in my room preparing, I suddenly sensed God saying, “Before you become anxious, ask me.  Whatever you need, mention it and I will answer.”  So, I did just that, and God answered immediately, every time.  As I moved about my room, before I could say, “Lord, where is that?” or while I was asking, “God, help me find this,” my hand lifted a scarf on the bathroom counter and I found it, or out of the corner of my eye I saw the item on my luggage.  While thinking, “I could sure use …” there it was.  Whatever the need, God answered.

“It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”

Following my presentation, I reflected in awe on my morning preparations.  “Wow!  God, you were right there, guiding me to ensure that I remained calm prior to my presentation.” 

I needed nothing.  The Lord made me lie down in a pasture of peace; He led me beside still waters (in my spirit). Psalm 23 (NKJV) One thing after another was answered.

But what about my prayer and answer for the house?

Why does God answer some prayers immediately, yet others take time, God seems silent? 

We don’t have this answer.  God is sovereign.  Only He knows “Why.”  He wants us to trust Him either way.

My presentation experience gave me this resolve: God is intimately involved in our lives, He gives us what we need, when we need it, and although an answer may tarry,“Wait on the Lord…”  Psalm 27:14 (NKJV)

And yes, I am still waiting on God to show me my home, but in the interim, I wait patiently.