Friends gave us a book. Twenty-one years ago. I just started reading it.
Perhaps a gift you’ve given is sitting on a shelf. Perhaps your prayers are yet unanswered.
“And Patience was willing to wait.”*
*L.B. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, p.339.
Sometimes suffering seems endless. Keep praying. Keep waiting. Our present sufferings are not worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:18).
David’s prayer began: “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me (Psalm 13:1)?”
Though he still waited for God to answer, his prayer ended: “I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me (Psalm 13:5-6).
Pray with cheerful expectation.
It was night when Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The disciples fell asleep. Jesus asked them, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? Keep watch and pray (Matthew 36:40).”
It was a bright sunny day when we visited the Garden of Gethsemane. I imagined Jesus asking me, “Could you watch with me one hour? Keep watch and pray.” 
“Watch and pray . . . the spirit is willing, but the body is weak (Matthew 26:41).”
My friend had a need I could not meet. I told another friend and he provided for her need.
Jesus told us that prayer is like that. “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, ‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit and I have nothing for him to eat . . . if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence (Luke 11:5-8).'”
Sometimes the Lord’s answers seem slow in coming. Sometimes it seems our heart’s longings will never be realized.
Pray anyway. Pray always. Pray. Pray. Pray.
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5).
“Jesus told his disciples . . . that they should always pray and never give up.
God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night.”
(Luke 18:1-7 NLT).
