Should a child make a request to his parents and then tell them when and how they should fulfill

the request? Most parents would agree it’s not the child’s place to do anything other than ask.

The parents can then determine what’s best for the child.

Similarly, we petition God for the things we want, but God determines if that request is in our

best interest. As our Lord, He also determines the way He will accomplish what we ask and the

time frame for its completion. God grows our faith as we experience His faithfulness as He

provides for us in unmistakable ways.

For example, God had promised Abram a son who would be his heir and from whom would

come a countless number of offspring (Genesis 15:1-20). Abram was 75 when he was first

promised by God to be a “great nation.” Twenty-five years later, when Abraham was 100 and

Sarah was 90, the promised son was born. Why the wait? I honestly don’t know why, but I do

know a son was promised and regardless of the time it took for the promise to be fulfilled, God

never breaks His promise. Scripture says,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways” declares the

LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

About ten years before I moved to Lexington to start the Lexington Rescue Mission, I remember

praying that God would use me to make a difference for His Kingdom. That prayer took me on a

“roller coaster ride” that included the loss of a dream job and gaining two other jobs unrelated to

my financial vocation. This prepared me for the work as a mission director that God had planned

for me, and which was His answer to my earlier prayer. I couldn’t understand what God was

doing with me at the time, but in hindsight it’s clear that He was working in me and in my

circumstances the entire time to answer my prayer in accordance with His will.

God knew it was valuable for us to remember the times He answered prayer on our behalf. He

instructed the Israelites to recount the story of the remarkable deliverance from the bondage of

slavery in Egypt to the children of each generation.



I would encourage you to write down on paper the memorable times when God has helped you.

Praise and thank God for his faithfulness and remember the same God who has loved you and

provided for you will never leave you nor forsake you!

By Jim Connell

Jim is the founder and retired director of Lexington Rescue Mission and author of

Jesusislordblog.com, faithanswerspress.net, and Creator of FAQs of Faith (mobile app).