Our greatest weapon in spiritual warfare is prayer. In a microwave world, I often hear Christians express discouragement and doubt when prayers have seemingly gone unanswered after weeks or a few months of praying. We often give up on a prayer and an answer too soon because in our culture waiting for anything is almost a foreign concept. Instant gratification seems to be the norm in everything we do. Unfortunately, patience and endurance along with perseverance are spiritual qualities that God wants to develop in each of us. James wrote, “Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance” (Ja. 1:2-3). If we did not have to wait and persist in many circumstances, we would not need those qualities.

Speaking of our thirst for immediate answers and solutions, Dutch Sheets writes, “We are much like the African cheetah that must run down its pray to eat. It is well suited for the task as it can run at speeds of 70 miles per hour. The cheetah has only one problem, however, in that it has a disproportionately small heart, which causes it to tire quickly. If it doesn’t catch its prey quickly, it must end the chase. How often we have the cheetah’s approach in prayer. We speed into our closets with great energy, we speed to the front of the church, or we speed to someone else for prayer. But lacking the heart for a sustained effort, we often falter before we accomplish what is needed. For our next prayer excursion, we decide to pray harder and faster, when what is needed may not be more explosive power but more staying power – stamina that comes from a bigger prayer heart” (Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer, p.208).

George Muller once wrote, “The great point is never to give up until the answer comes. I have been praying for sixty-three years for one man’s conversion. He is not saved yet, but he will be. How can it be otherwise…I am praying.” Dick Eastman reports that the day came when Muller’s friend did receive Christ. It did not come until Muller’s casket was lowered into the grave and at that moment, Muller’s friend gave his heart to Jesus. Persistent prayer had won the day. Faith reached beyond the grave and accomplished a lifelong prayer. Jesus himself instructed his disciples to “always pray and never give up” (Lk.18:1).

God is not impressed with a world that demands instant everything. He works on his own timetable to fulfill his purposes in the world and in our lives. He will not be hurried by our impatience so we must bend to his ways. Sometimes that includes patience, perseverance, and endurance. Whatever you have been praying for, keep praying. If it is good and godly and is a desire of your heart, keep praying unless God instructs you to do otherwise. Jesus promised that whatever we ask in his name (that is consistent with the will of God) we will receive it. He promised the outcome but did not dictate the time frame. God is a multi-tasker and is often accomplishing numerous things connected to the same prayer. It is never just about you or me. God does things “in the fullness of time,” which means he does them when every part is in place. Typically, nothing happens, nothing happens, nothing happens…and then everything happens at once.

Our part is to believe that God answers our prayers. He is faithful and stands on his promises. Some answers do come in hours but others come in years and decades. If it is important enough you must keep praying and believing that the answer is in the pipeline. It is coming and when the time is right and the forces of heaven converge, your answer will appear. Endure. Be patient. Always pray and never give up.