God answers prayer in the time and the way that he sees fit, but it is best. Be thankful that he answers and persevere, trusting in his goodness and wisdom. Don’t let unbelief draw you back or cause you to question. You have a good God who hears.

First, we have a prayer hearing and a gracious God. Genesis 25:21 - "And Isaac prayed to the LORD for his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived." God is merciful to listen to us. Don’t expect answered prayer as a matter of right. It required the blood shedding of our Lord Jesus Christ. He had to give up his life to bring us reconciliation. Having done that, however, God is covenanted with us in prayer, and he has promised to hear us. Jeremiah 29:12, “Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”

Use this access; it is special. Approach him as a prayer hearing and answering God. Approach your Father, knowing that he does right, and he uses prayer to give us good things. Isaac wanted a child, and we want many things. If we ask anything according to his will, then he hears us [1 John 5:14]. He says ask, seek, and knock, and it will be answered. The door will be opened to you. Matthew 7:8 - "For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." He will give us all the good that he’s promised through prayer!

Secondly, God is sovereign. Genesis 25:23 - "And the LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger."" He does as he pleases, and the elder shall serve the younger. It doesn’t matter what we want. This is his will.

Let us submit ourselves to God’s decisions, because he does best! Only he has perfect wisdom and sovereignty. Only he has perfect goodness. There are no faults in him, and nothing to blame. He is righteous in showing mercy, because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and he is righteous in showing no mercy, because of people’s sin.

Isaac and Rebecca would have twins, but only one would be saved. Romans 9:13 - "As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."" God determined this before time began. Romans 9:11 - "though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad [both would be born sinners]--in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls." We are unworthy of the least of his mercies. Let us be thankful that he saves all who call upon him. Romans 10:13 - "For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."" Let us be thankful that he saved us.

Salvation by grace makes us the most thankful and self-sacrificing people. Oh, the goodness of God to choose us, when we certainly would have gone to hell. As one woman said, “The good that you do is because God chose you, and gave you the strength.” He picked us. We did not choose ourselves [John 15:16]. Romans 9:29 - "And as Isaiah predicted, "If the Lord of hosts had not left us offspring, we would have been like Sodom and become like Gomorrah."" He set our affections on Christ and OPENED our eyes! I often say that if others had seen what I’ve seen of God’s grace and glory, then they’d love him too. If they were delivered from the pit, shown the atonement, and set free from sin’s bondage, then they’d love him just as much as you and me. They may even bear more fruit by grace. We have nothing to boast of: only a God to give glory.

Thirdly, we must be patient. Genesis 25:25-26 - "The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them." Jacob and Esau were born when it pleased God. He used prayer, but the timing was his. No one could push him, because he has a master plan. Let us continue in prayer, until we receive answers. Perseverance is proof that we believe God will give, and we have no other hope.

Pray for revival, and pray for your children. They might not come to faith while you are living, but there is a God who answers and hears. Pray for nations that are blind and languishing. What would happen if God raised up a hundred Steve Lawsons? He is able to do it. What would happen if Nigeria was unified in gospel preaching, the saints working as one? What would happen in other nations and communities? What would happen in a local church, if we put away bitterness, and loved… If all ego was smashed, and we didn’t fault-find our brothers? What would happen if we lifted people up [Gal 6:1]?

God can do this and many great things like it. He can change us, cause us to be what he wants, and what we desire. Ephesians 3:20 - "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us." He can make us loving, serving, and self-sacrificing. He can make us holy, meek, and kind. He can increase our fruitfulness and usefulness. He can give us patience.

Don’t give up. Keep going to him. Believe the gospel. It took Isaac and Rebecca twenty years, but use this as an example to encourage your perseverance. Genesis 25:20 - "and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife." Look at how some of your prayers have been answered after a long time? He did grant deliverance over the long held sin. He did mend your heart with contentment and peace. He did improve you, but it took time.

Don’t leave off praying now. Old saints should die like David Livingstone upon their knees. Let us be prayer warriors with hope.

There is no other answer or solution. We have to resort to prayer, because we need God.

Finally, God has given us a way of patience. Submit to his goodness and his power. He set his generosity side by side with his dominion and fatherly care. He exercises absolute sovereignty, and he’s to be trusted.