• The Place Between A Prayer and A Response

    By: Kristen L. McNulty

    Reprint rights available on request. Email the author at kristenmcnulty@hotmail.com.

    I'm reading through the Psalms right now and this week landed on Psalm 77 and it really resonated with me. Here we are introduced to someone who seems to be in deep pain and in over his head. In the first few verses we learn that he is waiting upon the Lord to act. We don't know the exact circumstances he found himself in. All we do know is that it's a desperate need that has kept him up, praying all night long.

    "When I was in deep trouble I searched for the Lord. All night long I pray, with hands lifted towards heaven, pleading. There can be no joy for me until he acts." Psalm 77:2


    Have you ever felt this way? It is a unique kind of anguish we can experience between the prayer we lift towards heaven and the answer that sometimes heaven delays in giving us. Or maybe gives us the answer we didn't want to hear, the answer of "no". 

    So where does that leave us? In the place between a prayer and a response, what is a believer to do? Well I think the answer lies in how the Psalmist responds.

    1. He responds with honesty


    First of all, the psalmist doesn't hold back from God, instead he pours out his heart to him. This is such a vital part of an intimate relationship with God. Some people feel they have to hide their true feelings from Him, but let's face it, He already knows them. He knows when we are in despair and as Jesus' example in the gardenshowed us, it's okay to pour out our anguish to him. How can we have an intimate relationship with our creator when we attempt to hide what's going on inside? The psalms are filled with the prayers of those who are hurt and searching and they show us how it's okay to bring that to the Lord.

    2. He responds by remembering


    After pouring out his heart to the Lord, the second thing the psalmist did here is he made a point of remembering who God is and what He has done in the past. And this wasn't a fleeting thought, it's something he kept thinking on. Verses 11 and 12:

    "But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works." Psalm 77:11-12


    The psalmist then goes on to recount how God had moved in the past from the Red Sea parting to how God redeemed the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Instead of focusing on what wasn't happening at that present moment in time, the psalmist instead chose to focus on how God had moved in the past.

    3. He responds by worshipping


    The next thing the psalmist does is take it a step beyond remembering. As he recalls the great things God has done in the past, he then turns his focus to worshipping God Himself:

    "O God, your ways are holy. Is there any god as mighty as you? You are the God of great wonders! You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations." Psalm 77:13-14


    Worship reminds us exactly who God is and is an active choice we make to praise Him, even during moments of trial and pain. Because no matter what is happening in our lives, we were made to glorify Him.

    The Same God Is On The Throne


    So if you find yourself in that time period between a prayer and a response, follow the example of the psalmist and as you do, remember that the same God who parted the Red Sea and the same God who created the world is the same God who is on the throne right now. He hasn't moved and His character or might hasn't changed. Period. As we are told in Hebrews:

    "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever." Hebrews 13:8 


    You and I might not understand right now why we are facing pain or waiting on an answer to prayer, but peace isn't found in understanding why, peace is found in trusting God. Knowing that He made us, He loves us, and He hasn't forgotten about us, no matter what life might look like right now.

    Return To The Impact Devotional Archive