I ran across two songs with a similar message. Here is a brief quote from each of them. “God was in time when the children of Israel crossed the mighty Red Sea. He was on time when the walls of Jericho fell at Joshua’s feet. Whenever I feel discouraged, I don’t have to wonder where He’ll be. He’s been in time, on time, every time for me.” “While struggling though a bitter day, I fall down on my knees to pray. To get relief where else could I go? ‘Jesus, here I am again helpless and I need a friend. I’ll depend on you to ease my troubled soul;’ and He comes in time, on time every time I need Him. Just when I think I’m going to fail. He answers, ‘Yes, no or maybe so.’ I don’t worry cause I know He’s in time, on time every time I need Him.” That sums up accurately God’s involvement in my life and His response to my prayers since I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior long ago.
The thing we must remember is that God created the Universe including the solar system that is the basis of our concept of time; so He is not limited by time or space as we are. He responds in His sweet time and on His timetable; but He will always respond in answer to our prayers. Mark Batterson points out that we are living in an age of instant gratification, so when we don’t get an immediate answer to our prayer, we think God didn’t hear us or doesn’t think it is a prayer worth answering. Neither is true, of course. Mark suggests that instead of praying ASAP (as soon as possible} prayers, we should start praying ALAIT (as long as it takes) prayers.
A great example of the difference between our time and God’s time is found in the Gospel of John. (John 11:1-44) Mary and Martha sent a message to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick and needed immediate healing. They knew Jesus loved them and they thought he would rush to the rescue. Jesus didn’t come and they wondered why as they watched their brother die. He had been in the tomb for four days when Jesus finally got there. Jesus knew that Lazarus was dead and he was there to bring him back to life. Our God is so great that even when He is four days late; He is still on time. When we think He’s late, it is usually because He has something bigger and better planned.
As Christians, we don’t have to wait for God to come to us. His Spirit is with us and in us at all times. He hears our every prayer and He will respond when it will bring Him honor and glory. He will always answer our prayers in time and on time, every time. But it will be His time and not ours. The only prayer that God always immediate answers is the one we pray with a repentant heart for salvation from our sins and spiritual rebirth through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus; His Holy Spirit comes to dwell in our heart; while angels spontaneously rejoice in heaven.