"I want it and I want it now!" We might not exactly say those words but often that is the attitude of our heart. We want what we want it, when we want it, how we want it and that's that! It's either our way or the highway. We will settle for nothing less than that and we even have the audacity to tell that to God as well. Perhaps we are not quite so plain-spoken about it but though we may kid ourselves into believing that we're not doing that at all, God sees past our facade.

Jesus said:

God blesses you who are hungry now, for you will be satisfied. God blesses you who weep now, for in due time you will laugh. Luke 6:21 (NLT)

Have you ever noticed that Jesus is speaking in the future tense? Chortasthasesthe (you will be satisfied) and gelasete (you will laugh) are the words which Luke uses. My resident Greek scholar tells me these words are future active indicative second person plural. We might be "hungry" at the moment. We might be weeping at the moment but in due time, they will be satisfied and their weeping will turn into laughter.

Over the years I have seen a number of people who have become very discouraged and even turned their backs on God simply because well-meaning people have told them that God will do whatever they ask Him to do at that very moment. When they don't get their "wish", usually they either believe God is denying their request because they're not good enough (we never are) or they believe they have been duped. God either doesn't answer prayers or perhaps He doesn't even exist!

God does answer prayer but we must never forget that God answers it in due time and when He does, God does it His way, not our way. When we understand and accept this, we can trust God even when it appears that He is silent. We can have joy, even in the darkest of night. We understand that what we are enduring will not last forever. We understand that in due time God will turn our mourning into dancing and until that moment comes... we've got to keep on walking.

Blessings!

K

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