Waiting For A Tow

“Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me…”
Daniel 10:12-13

Our car broke down just as my husband Dan was trying to get on the freeway to come home from work. A call to AAA met the response of “it could be as long as two hours before we can get a truck out to you.” Well ok then. So there he sat in a precarious position, waiting for a tow. In some ways Daniel found himself in a similar sort of situation. 

Daniel had been having disturbing visions and had been visited twice by the angel Gabriel already. Then Gabriel arrives for the third time and basically tells Daniel “Sorry I am late but I had car trouble and I had to wait for help.” Interesting that in the passages leading up to the one we are reading this week it says that Daniel “mourned for three weeks…” (v.2). Daniel mourned and fasted for the twenty-one days that Gabriel was held up. Earlier Gabriel had showed up as soon as Daniel started to pray (see Daniel 9:20-23). 

You see sometimes we get a speedy response from our roadside service and from God. Sometimes we have to wait on both a lot longer than we would like too. The good news is that eventually the tow truck arrives and we hear from God in response to our prayers.  

Remember always that God is faithful - so while you are waiting on Him be faithful as well. Pray and fast, encourage someone else who is waiting. Take time to enjoy the beauty of your surroundings as you wait. It may take a while for the help you seek to arrive but it will - have no doubt. In the meantime as I often say: “If it takes a 1000 years I will trust in Him.” 

A Prayer
Father, you know that even we your people want answers, resolutions and our way right now. Help us - when we have to wait for Your best response - to be faithful as You are faithful. May we be mindful that sometimes our answers are being held up by someone who would prefer we lose faith. Thank you that Your Son has overcome the one who wants us to fall. The wait will be worth it thanks to Your Son in who’s name we pray, Amen.