For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
 neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. Isaiah 55:8

When your answer to your prayers comes it may come quickly and in a different way then you had ever imagined. You must accept that and not resist it, even though it didn’t come in the way you imagined it would.

A woman I know had a job for fifteen years that she absolutely hated. Nevertheless, she was making a nice amount of money and felt like she was stuck. She prayed and prayed for God to open the door to a new opportunity that paid her as well, if not more then she was making at her current position.

One day, because of the company having to cut back, she lost her job through being laid off. She called me, devastated and in tears. Immediately I said to her, “But you have been praying for over a year to get another job. Maybe this is God’s way of getting you to finally look for something else.” Believe it or not, even in this economy, she found another job within three weeks of being laid off and this new job will pay her much more then what she was making at the old one.

We all have ways that we think God is going to perform our miracle. We get our minds fixed on God doing something one way and one way only. A lot of times we don’t move forward because of fear of the unknown. God is aware of that, and knows that He needs to create circumstances to move us forward, or we will stay stuck in a situation that is less then perfect for a long time.

I had prayed for a way to get away from my abusive ex-husband for years. He was physically, emotionally and verbally abusive to me. Because I am an orphan and an only child there was actually no “human” help for me, in getting my own place and getting away from him. I lived with him as a roommate for a long time, and seeing his constant “running around” with women, and his total disregard for my feelings caused a great deal of emotional turmoil in my life. I was, however, stuck. I prayed and prayed for a financial miracle.

I have talked before about the day his married mistress showed up at my door, that was a very painful situation, but it allowed me to move out of the home when she convinced my ex husband to give me a check to do so. Overnight, I was free and had a way out of the situation. It didn’t happen like I thought or hoped it would, it was painful, but God moved me out.

Some of you are probably one hour, one day, one month away from your miracle, but when it happens it may not be in the way you expected it. God will move though, and when He does it may be in a totally different way then you wanted it to be. I tell you this, except your freedom, from the bondage of your problem, with thanksgiving, as God’s ways are perfect.

When you start praying for your miracle, things may temporarily seem to get worse. Things may get stirred up a bit. Before the children of Israel were released from their bondage they went through a total of nine plaques. During this time Moses was asking Pharaoh for their release. Pharaoh tried to compromise with Moses. He said he would allow the children of Israel to go out into the wilderness to sacrifice to their God, but they must return to Egypt. Moses refused to compromise. Finally, the Israelites gained their freedom from Egypt and left for the Promised Land, without having to compromise.

If we accept compromise we will remain in bondage to our situations. Like Moses we may have to say “no” to compromising many times. When we refuse to settle for compromising, then complete freedom comes.

Often, I think, we are like the Hebrews who did not appreciate Moses when he tried to rescue them. I often give guidance to a person, through the discernment of the Lord, that they refuse to accept. People want their answers, “their way.” Sometimes people are not willing to make the effort to gain freedom from bondage. I totally understand that. I can assure you, as in my own case, God will change your situation overnight, when He wants it changed.

There are always ways out of our difficulties and if we refuse to take a different route in our stubbornness, God will still deliver us. If it at first seems fearful don’t despair of your situation. Think back about your prayers. God doesn’t forget them; even if at times He seems a bit slow to us in these suits of flesh. What we may perceive to be a problem, at first, just may be God’s answer in a different way then we expected it!

Father, You always answer our prayers. You show us ways out our “messes”, and even if we rebel, You still answer our prayers in Your own timing and Your own way. Help us today to accept that, and look for the good that is often hidden in bad situations. In Your Name, the Name above all names we pray. Amen and Amen,