There are times when something truly important in our lives hangs in the balance – a critical health issue, a marriage, a financial peril, whatever it happens to be. And it’s in those times that most people will pray. It’s in those times that most will cry out to God.

I have a good friend who married a smart, successful woman. In fact, they’ve both achieved so much in their lives … and continue to do so. When they were young, they desperately wanted children, but couldn’t conceive. They prayed and prayed and prayed … and yet, God seemed either not to hear them, or not to care.

All these years on, they remain childless and yet have come to a deep and humble acceptance that having children – for what reason they have no idea – simply wasn’t part of God’s plan for their lives.

To His people, Israel, at an incredibly difficult time in their history, God said:

Habakkuk 2:3 This message is about a special time in the future. This message is about the end, and it will come true. Just be patient and wait for it. That time will come; it will not be late.

Here’s the brutal truth of the matter: God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we’d hoped, or when we’d hoped for that matter. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. His plans aren’t always our plans. And yet somehow He works all things together for those who love Him, according to His purpose.

Whatever you’re going through now, there will come a time when your tears will fall, not because of your troubles, but because God has answered your prayers in a way that only He could. That time will come; it will not be late.

That’s His Word. Fresh … for you … today.