What Happened to My Prayer
Recently a sweet friend of mine posted the following on FaceBook:
Prayer is where burdens change shoulders.
What a freeing statement! The changing of shoulders means I can walk upright. The changing of shoulders means I can have confidence in God’s strength to carrying my burden. The changing of shoulders provides immediate release from my burden. With immediate I can experience immediate freedom, leaving the burden on the powerful and very capable shoulders of God.
The statement made me think of a prayer I had been praying for over 15 years, its weight on my shoulders, and how I felt God had forgotten my prayer. I began to question God, not in a disrespectful way but in a “help me understand” way. Why wasn’t my prayer being answered? Was I praying wrong? Did I have wrong motives? Did God and I not share the same desire? Perhaps you have asked similar questions of God.
Through my inquiries, God drew me to the Old Testament, comforting me with the story of person who also wondered what happened to his prayer.
Daniel prayed for understanding about a vision that had frightened him. He prayed and continued praying but there was no answer. Then one day, an angel came to him with these words,
“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your request has been heard in heaven. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia. Now I am here to explain what will happen to your people in the future, for this vision concerns a time yet to come.”
Through Daniel’s story I learned delayed does not mean denied. God hears my prayers right away. The burden changes shoulders immediately, however there may be a delay in the answer because battles in the Heavenlies. God’s angels are in battle with evil spirits who seek to detain God’s plan and distract us from His promises.
Daniel’s story gave me hope. His answer did come. My answer will come. I don’t know when, but I do know this: the answer will have a huge impact on the Kingdom because it has been 15 years and I am still praying and waiting. The battle must be huge!
Yes, I am still waiting but no longer asking; what happened to my prayer?
I have been praying for thirty years that God would send me a husband to be my partner and supporter. Instead God has given me healing beyond anything I would ever have asked for and I have had the opportunity to raise two adopted daughters. I know when God does answer my prayer, it will have been worth the wait.
I really want to attend the She Speaks conference in July. I hope God sends the answer for that prayer a little quicker than my prayer for a husband.
“Prayer is where burdens change shoulders”… what a powerful statement. How often am I shouldering others burdens?