"(Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Romans 4:20-22 (NKJV)

 

I always thank God for answered and unanswered prayers.

Knowing that He is our Righteous Father, God will never do anything that could hurt us or cause our prayers to hurt others. We must take comfort in knowing that God will do us right even when we cannot see the larger picture.

Living in an age of entitlement, when everything must happen immediately, it is becoming increasingly difficult for many believers to focus on God's righteous character and walk by faith.

Even though circumstances appeared to suggest otherwise, Abraham persisted in his faith. According to the Apostle Paul, Abraham was fully persuaded that God would perfectly fulfil His promise based on the strength of His character. For this reason, God reckoned Abraham to be righteous before Him and referred to him as "the father of faith" (Romans 4:16). And His blessing upon Abraham is still felt today.

Do not be discouraged if you feel God is not hearing your prayers.

Our frustration with God's apparent silence and slowness demonstrates that we do not grasp the importance and value of trusting and waiting. We often expect God to act according to our schedule rather than learning to walk by faith all the time. The life story of Abraham teaches us an essential truth: God always keeps His promises, but He also prepares us to receive them. Thus, we must learn to rest during “the now and not yet.”