God's Timing in Answering Prayer and Suffering Context
God's Timing in Answering Prayer and Suffering
The concept of God's timing in answering prayer is deeply intertwined with the experience of suffering. Psalm 69:13 expresses a heartfelt prayer, "But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation" [1]. This verse highlights the psalmist's plea for God to answer in a time deemed appropriate by God, not necessarily by human standards.
The biblical narrative often portrays God as one who hears and answers prayers, but the timing of these answers can vary. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, God sometimes answers prayers immediately, while at other times, there is a delay [4]. For instance, Isaiah 65:24 and Daniel 9:21, 23 illustrate instances of immediate answers, whereas Luke 18:7 suggests that delayed answers are also part of the biblical experience.
The experience of suffering complicates the understanding of God's timing. Job's story is a classic example, where despite his righteous living, he faced immense suffering. Job 27:9 rhetorically asks, "Will God hear his cry of distress when distress comes upon him?" [2], highlighting the uncertainty and questioning that often accompany suffering.
In times of affliction, believers are encouraged to pray. Torrey's Topical Textbook lists various prayers under affliction, including prayers for comfort, mitigation of troubles, and deliverance [5]. The Psalmist's prayers in Psalms 25:17, 22, and 39:10, 12, 13 are cited as examples of such prayers.
The New Testament continues this theme, with 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 illustrating that God's answers to prayer may differ from human desires. The apostle Paul prayed for the removal of his "thorn in the flesh," but God's response was, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." This indicates that God's timing and manner of answering prayers are guided by His wisdom and purposes, which may not always align with human expectations.
The Reformed tradition, as seen in Calvin's commentary on Philippians, emphasizes trust in God's sovereignty and timing. Calvin notes the importance of prayer and the expectation of God's response, grounded in His promises [6].
John Gill's commentary on Psalms offers insight into the nature of God's response to prayer during suffering. On Psalm 91:15, Gill notes that God promises to answer those who call upon Him, and to be with them in trouble [7]. This underscores the belief that God's timing, though not always immediately understandable, is part of His gracious interaction with believers.
The biblical and theological understanding is that God's timing in answering prayer is rooted in His sovereignty and loving-kindness. Ecclesiastes 3:7 speaks of "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" [3], suggesting that there are appointed times for various actions under heaven, including God's response to prayer.
Sources
- Psalms “But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh, in an acceptable time. God, in the abundance of your loving kindness, answer me in the truth of your salvation. -- Psalms 69:13”
- Job “Job 27:9 (LEB) — Will God hear his cry of distress when distress comes upon him?”
- Ecclesiastes “a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; -- Ecclesiastes 3:7”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Answers To — God gives -- Ps 99:6; 118:5; 138:3. Christ gives -- Joh 4:10,14; 14:14. Christ received -- Joh 11:42; Heb 5:7. Granted Through the grace of God. -- Isa 30:19. Sometimes immediately. -- Isa 65:24; Da 9:21,23; 10:12. Sometimes after delay. -- Lu 18:7. Sometimes differently from our desire. -- 2Co 12:8,9. Beyond expectation. -- Jer 33:3; Eph 3:20. Promised -- Isa 58:9; Jer 29:12; Mt 7:7. Promised especially in times of trouble -- Ps 50:15; 91:15. Received by those who Seek God. -- Ps 34:4. Seek God with all the heart. -- Jer 29:12,13. Wait upon God.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Philippians, Colossians, 1-2 Thessalonians, section 84.1: Index of Scripture References Genesis 1 1:26 3:22 9:6 9:6 9:6 14:13 Exodus 7:11 14:13 14:31 32:32 Leviticus 19:14 Deuteronomy 7:7-8 10:17 13:3 1 Kings 19:18 Job 4:18 Psalms 7:8 35:19 37:5 55:22 55:22 69:28 73:1-12 122:6 128:2 137:6 138:8 138:8 145:18 Proverbs 3:5 5:15 8:36 10:4 Ecclesiastes 9:3 Isaiah 11:4 26:9 30:15 30:21 33:22 42:1 45:23 48:11 50:5 53:1 55:11 55:13 60:2 60:2 60:2 64:8 Jeremiah 5:8 17:9 23:29 31:33 Ezekiel 11:20 Daniel 12:2 Hosea 1:10-11 Amos 9:36 Zechariah 14:8 Malachi 4:2 Matthew 5:11 5:14 5:15 ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 91:15: He shall call upon me, and I will answer him,.... God is to be invoked by prayer, and to be called upon in every time of trouble, in faith and with fervency, in truth and uprightness, and sincerity of soul; and he himself directs and encourages to it, and promises an answer, which he always sooner or later gives; for he is a God hearing and answering prayer; see Psa 50:15. I will be with him in trouble; the Lord knows his people in adversity; he visits them in their affliction, grants his gracious presence with them, supports them under it, that they are not overwh”