Did He Forget?
When life’s pressures stack up and answers feel slow to arrive, it’s easy to wonder if God has forgotten us. In this honest, comforting reflection, we walk through the weight of eleventh-hour waiting, trusting God’s timing over our own clock, and holding onto hope when our strength feels low.
COURAGE AND STRENGTHFAITH
Waiting in the Eleventh Hour and Trusting God’s Timing
Lately, I’ve thought to myself that if my life came with a restart button, I know with complete certainty I’d push it every other day. Between inflation, politics, business challenges, personal conflicts, family pressures, stress-related health struggles, and simply the weight of getting older, there are days when life feels too heavy to look forward to tomorrow. I feel you, brothers and sisters!
Like many of you, over the decades of my life I’ve prayed innumerable prayers for every facet of my existence. From business survival and growth to personal hopes, dreams, needs, and desires, I have continually sought and hoped for His divine intervention. Often, I’ve waited with bated breath, expecting that through my efforts, acts, and deeds, my breakthrough or reward was only a short prayer away. After all, didn't God promise that if we remained steadfast, He would honor our faith?
So, as we all do, I’ve waited. None of us wants to suffer long with illness, stretch past our patience, deny ourselves a comfort we feel we’ve earned, or stall paying a bill simply because the funds weren't there yet. Some of my prayers have been sincere and earnest; other times, looking back with clearer eyes, I’ve realized my requests leaned toward the indulgent, selfish, or lofty—especially when I felt my prayers were going unanswered. I hate disappointment. Like a petulant child, some days I want the answer yesterday. Yet there are also real, urgent days when answers are truly, desperately needed.
Feeling Tapped Out in the Eleventh Hour
Like so many others, there have been stretches along this road when I felt as though I was walking—and sometimes even running—all alone. In my own head, I’ve felt like I’ve suffered too long, prayed past the limit of my patience, and given beyond my means. At times, I’ve simply felt tapped out—frustrated and even angry with both God and the world around me.
When you’re in that place, tough questions surface fast: Why didn't someone or something move my prayers to the top of God’s to-do list? With roughly 2.2 billion believers around the world, why am I still waiting? What makes anyone else's prayer more urgent or important than mine? Imagine how many prayers are lifted up every second—and every day—across the globe. Still, the deepest, hardest question that has hovered over my own needs at times is: "Did He forget?"
Where is God in what feels like your eleventh hour? When you have no more answers for heavy questions—when money is tight to cover payroll or obligations, when your strength runs thin amid relational strain, when you can’t stretch the budget for what your children need, or when the opportunity you’re praying for hasn't materialized yet—what are you supposed to do? We have all stood in that tight spot at one time or another.
God’s Timing, Not Our Clock
I have had to learn—both in my younger years and as I move through my autumn seasons—that human timelines carry no weight with God. No matter how much we fret, vent, complain, or stress out, His infinite wisdom knows precisely what we need and the exact moment it will truly serve and reward our faith. He sees when we are still growing in discernment and humility, learning patience and wisdom, and moving through life’s volatile tests.
What feels like an endless stretch or even a lifetime to us is often only a fleeting moment in God’s eternal view. And no matter how tired, discouraged, disillusioned, frustrated, or worn down we may feel while waiting, when God’s answer finally arrives, it lands like fresh, cool water in the middle of the Sahara.
I know how hard the wait can be. Some people lose heart, grow weary, and turn away when anger or impatience overtakes their faith. Their strength runs dry, and they feel ready to tap out. Whenever you feel the walls closing in, your faith shaking, or your heart growing heavy, I invite you to pray this prayer with me:
"Almighty Father, I lift this prayer to You with a struggling and troubled heart. My life has become even more challenging these days, causing my spirit to falter, my faith to wane, and my heart to ache no matter how hard I try to push forward. I pray that You grant me the patience, courage, and strength to persevere, knowing this hardship is only temporary. Help me hold my peace and remain patient in all things. Father, give me comfort during these difficult days. Hold me close to You so that my faith in You will not be shaken. Be my guide in everything I do, and help me not rely solely on my own limited understanding, but depend fully on Your grace. In Jesus’ most gracious and merciful name I ask and pray... Amen."
Remember this: God hears every word we speak and every quiet prayer we whisper. He comforts and protects us in ways we cannot always see. He understands our wants, needs, and desires—even our frustration and anger. He sees our work, knows our hearts, and above all, sees our faith. Let’s keep encouraging one another, lifting one another up, and standing firm in faith together. Help is on the way. I’m praying for you—please pray for me... Amen.
S.K. Caraway, Director
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.