One day at track practice, my son Ben was told to start running because the coach wanted to time him. Where to? How long? but coach told him just run this road near school and that was it. Ben did not know how long he’d be running nor when he’d be timed during the run. It was the most frustrating experience he ever had he said. Praying is a lot like that. How do you keep going when you don’t know when or where the finish line is?
On the second day they again circled the city once and returned to camp. They did this six days. When the seventh day came, they got up early and marched around the city this same way but seven times—yes, this day they circled the city seven times. — Joshua 6:14-15
Joshua had to keep his men motivated as they marched around Jericho six times over six days and each time there was no visible impact. They would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Day 2, they would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Day 3, they would get up, walk around the city walls in silence, then head back to camp. Yada, Yada, Yada. Each day nothing had changed in the mission except sore feet and poor attitudes. It was on the seventh day, when I’m sure they were grumbling, tired, and frustrated that the walls came tumbling down through no effort of their own.
At what point do you give up praying for something or someone? I often think God is not hearing my prayers when I don’t see physical change or the situation resolved according to my expectations. We put our own set of timelines and finishlines then move on thinking it must not be God’s will when in actuality we are in the middle of the run. I gotta believe Joshua and his army felt the same way. Because they saw no change after 6 days, I’m sure they were questioning if this circling in silence was actually making a difference yet they were 24 hours away from breakthrough.
Ben didn’t know the distance; he didn’t know when you he needed to run hard; but he knew he had to keep going. I find it’s tough to keep praying when I don’t know when the finish line is but it is then that I am reminded of His promises;
- I am working in ways you don’t see (1 Cor 2:8-9)– reconciliation is birthing.
- Be faithful because I am faithful (2 Tim 2:13)– your future spouse is near.
- I have made you, I will not forget you (Is 44:21b)– provision is coming.
Joshua reminds me that I am close to seeing crumbling walls. I can’t give up praying because day 7 is near.
Reflection |
How can this encourage you to hang on today?