Waiting on God

I do not like to wait. But while God promises answers to prayer (1 John 5:14,15; Matthew 7:7-11; 21:21-22), He requires us to wait on Him (Isaiah 40:31; Psalms 25:3-5; 37:3-9). We need to wait on God, for Him to do what He is going to do, in His way, in His timing. It is for this reason, I believe, that Scripture commends persistence in prayer (Luke 11:5-8; 18:1-8; 1 Thessalonians 5:17). It is not that God is unwilling and needs to be worn down, but He wants us to continue to trust Him and look to Him even when He does not immediately answer. Now I do not claim to know in every case why God answers some prayers and not others, and some immediately and others only after a long period. But I do know that He wants us to trust Him and wait for Him, even if the answer is not quickly forthcoming.