“Jesus does not deny that his chosen ones who cry day and night have at times to wait long before their prayer is answered. If there is a delay, it is not because God does not care. If we expect God’s prompt action every time, we call on Him, we treat Him like a vending machine which releases whatever corresponds to the cash we drop in the slot and the button we press. Neither is life a supermarket in which we can choose what we like and leave behind what is not to our taste. When we pray and ask for help from the Lord, let us not expect something extraordinary. Most of the time, God uses the natural to achieve something supernatural. God answers our prayer in his time.
Jesus never promised the instant granting of a request. He promised, however, the Holy Spirit who gives growth, understanding and trust. We need incessant prayer to grow from self-centeredness towards openness to the needs of others, to understand the bias in our reasoning, to accept the value of God’s kingdom and to trust God’s goodness even in the moment we feel bad. Constant prayer is needed to keep our eyes on the essentials, to choose the right means, and to persevere in moments of trial.
