The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Jeremiah 42:4-7, “Then Jeremiah the prophet said to them, ‘I have heard you. Behold, I am going to pray to the LORD your God in accordance with your words; and it will come about that the whole message which the LORD will answer you I will tell you. I will not keep back a word from you.’

5 “Then they said to Jeremiah, ‘May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not act in accordance with the whole message with which the LORD your God will send you to us.

6 ‘Whether it is pleasant or unpleasant, we will listen to the voice of the LORD our God to whom we are sending you, in order that it may go well with us when we listen to the voice of the LORD our God.’”

7 “Now it came about at the end of ten days that the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.”

Sometimes circumstances surround us so heavily that we find it difficult to pray. This was the condition

of the Israelites in the days of Jeremiah. In that day, of course, it was necessary that they intreat a prophet

of the LORD to pray for them. The people were faced with a serious situation: they could remain in their

land where war and death were likely, or they could journey to Egypt, where there was no war. What were

they to do?

Jeremiah agreed to pray for them, but it was ten days before the LORD answered His prayer. Time was not to the people what it is to us today. We live in a day of “instant communication.” Texts and emails are sent

and received around the world literally in seconds. Thus, when we pray, we expect the LORD to respond

as if He were answering by text or email –instantly!

Jeremiah was forced to wait 10 days for an answer to his prayer. Why was it so long? Was the LORD not able to respond more quickly? Was He trying to figure out what to say? Not at all! He even knew what

Jeremiah was going to ask before Jeremiah knew. Time is not a factor with God. I am neither competent nor privileged to know why the LORD made Jeremiah wait 10 days for an answer. If I knew, I would then know

why He doesn’t answer my own prayers more quickly.

Perhaps He is teaching us all patience. His delays in answering prayers should nevertheless not discourage us. Even in this age of “instant communication,” we do not always receive instant replies to our emails from close friends. Why, then, should we question the LORD’s “delayed” replies?

Don’t give up on praying! Maybe the LORD would like to hear us praise Him for who He is instead of always

asking, asking, asking… Maybe we’re too slow in saying “Thank You” to Him for His answers. Maybe, too, He is waiting for us to repent of sin in our lives. Sin hinders our praying just as it hinders His replying. It’s like a glob of hair in the bathroom sink. It impeds the flow of water in the drain. Think of this when you’re wondering why the LORD appears to be slow in answering your prayers. The fault is never His! So, what are you going to do?

We love you and pray for your welfare,

Nana & Dado III

P. S. Nana (Rose Marie) is pregressing nicely. She is so thankful for your prayers –and so am I.

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”