By Jimoh Gracious
Waiting is hard!
When prayers seem unanswered, people often lose patience and resort to rituals. They prefer seeking quick solutions to waiting for God’s time, not knowing that His silence may mean He is preparing something great for them.
This often happens when people are desperately in need of money. They have prayed, but nothing seems to be happening. Then, suddenly, a friend appears and tells them to perform a ritual that will supposedly make them the richest people on earth. They may feel they have no other choice, especially when they have a dying parent at home. The fear of losing a parent can push them into agreeing to perform such rituals without considering the consequences.
People also believe that serving God and praying to Him will make Him answer their prayers quickly. However, they rarely ask themselves these questions: Are we actually praying to God in the right way? Do we thank Him for what He has done and trust Him for what He has not yet done, or do we spend our time complaining?
Questions like these can help people reflect and understand that we should not approach God only when we need something from Him. We should also worship Him because He is the Alpha and Omega, the Great I Am, the One who is and is to come, and our Everlasting Father.
Rituals cannot guarantee lasting happiness or security because, sooner or later, a person may be asked to sacrifice something or someone very important to them. What happens if they cannot provide what is demanded? According to stories surrounding such practices, there may be frightening consequences, including madness or death. What is the value of wealth that cannot last forever and comes at such a cost?
But do you know what can last forever? God’s promises. He has promised never to leave or forsake His people. As the Bible says, goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives if we remain faithful to Him.
Many people believe that because God did not answer their prayers when they expected Him to, He does not care about or love them. However, that is not necessarily true. God loves you, but what you are asking for may not be something He is ready to give you at that particular time.
Some questions people should also ask themselves are these: If I receive answers to my prayers, will I continue praying with the same commitment as before? Will I still go down on my knees and say, “Thank You, Jesus,” for what You have provided for me?
These are some of the questions we need to consider before concluding that God is not answering our prayers.
Stories and Warnings About Rituals
There are stories of people who reportedly performed rituals and faced terrible consequences.
One example is Johann Georg Faust, who, according to legend, made a pact with the devil, represented by Mephistopheles, in exchange for knowledge and worldly pleasures. Despite enjoying twenty-four years of pleasure and power in the legend, Faust eventually faced the ultimate consequence: eternal damnation and the reclamation of his soul.
Another example can be found in modern West African urban legends and popular Nollywood films about money rituals. In these stories, individuals perform occult rituals involving sacrifices in the hope of gaining overnight wealth. The consequences are often tragic, with the wealth reportedly coming at a terrible price, including madness, the untimely deaths of loved ones, severe paranoia, or sudden and mysterious deaths.
These stories serve as warnings about the dangers of pursuing wealth through rituals rather than exercising patience and trusting in God.
Trusting God’s Timing
Turning to rituals instead of waiting for God’s time is not the best choice. Whatever you are looking for may be within your reach, but perhaps not in the form you are currently prepared for. It may require you to become a different version of yourself, one that God is preparing you to be.
However, instead of being willing to wait, some people turn to rituals and engage in practices that offer no lasting assurance of happiness or security.
Rather than complaining that God is not answering your prayers, pray for wisdom. Talk to God about your pain and the little things that trouble you. Listen to sermons from preachers such as Apostle Joshua Selman, and remember that no matter what you are going through, God is always there for you, whether He seems silent or not.
God’s silence does not mean He is not hearing you. It may be a time of preparation for something greater than you can imagine.
People are often in a hurry to receive answers to their prayers, so they feel that God is delaying them. However, God does things in His own way and according to His own timing. Continue to trust Him, even when your strength fails you, and never stop thanking Him for everything He has done in your life.
Trusting God’s timing is important because abandoning your faith in pursuit of money can have serious spiritual consequences. The Bible describes the abandonment of one’s faith as apostasy, a serious spiritual concern.
Do not become one of those who turn away from God because they are chasing money. The Bible says in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Therefore, in everything you do, give thanks to God. Do what you can, and leave the rest to Him.
During difficult times, when it feels as though the world is about to end or you are tired of everything, the first thing you should do is turn to God in prayer. Read your Bible and reassure yourself with the promises contained in His Word.
No matter how difficult life becomes, do not allow impatience, desperation, or the pursuit of wealth to turn you away from your faith. Instead, remain patient, pray for wisdom, give thanks for what you have, and trust God to guide you through every situation.
