'These Things Take Time' by Sammy Younan - 23 Oct 2006
by Sammy Younan
 | My Dad lies in a hospital bed connected to various machines by gangly tubes. One machine breathes for him. Another monitors his heart, the same one he has always used to love me, my mother and my brother. Faint electronic beeps in the background are like Morse Code letting me know he’s still alive. But for how much longer? He’s gonna need a miracle to survive this. |
| There in the hospital room I kneel down on the clean white linoleum floor, my elbows resting on his hospital bed not to far from his left thigh. Hands clasped together—because I need to show God I can pray right—eyes closed tight I begin to pray. | |
These things take time
I pray openly and honestly—that God would somehow spare my
Dad. I think of all the healed lame men
who got to walk, the blind who got to see, all the Sunday school stories come
swimming back. There’s no comfort in
them, just evidence. I know what God can do and I know He does it because He
Loves me…He Loves my Dad. That’s why I
pray now, with tears streaming, holding back no anguish, releasing my angst,
unfurling my anger—it’s a completely unvarnished prayer with language I could
never ever use in a church. And when I
say amen and open my eyes: Nothing. Nothing.
No miracle, no movement, no change in his condition. Had
this been a movie the audience would’ve
walked out, demanding back their money.
How many more prayers do I have to pray to save my Dad? No that’s
not it exactly. How many more prayers do I have to pray for
the Lord to intervene and save my Dad?
These things take time
 | How many more prayers do I have to pray for an unsaved friend? That as excited as I get to identify how the Spirit is working in their life…it’s not enough. Do I have to pray more? Longer? How could it not be God’s will to “instantly” want to save one of His own children? Jesus always goes after that one missing sheep! |
These things take time
How many times do I have to augment my prayer with fasting
so this stronghold would be shattered?
That Satan and his minions would no longer have a place in your
thoughts, in your heart…in your mind?
Can’t Jesus see how sincere I am…for He truly knows the contents of my
heart. Isn’t that enough? If prayer isn’t a formula then why do I feel
as I’m not doing “something” right?
These things take
time
What’s wrong with today Jesus? What’s so wrong about answering prayers today
Lord God? When I pray for salvation for
my friends…are these not prayers that mirror your own? When I pray for reconciliation for broken
families, shattered friendships are these not your desires too? When I demand justice for those who cannot
stand up or fight back am I not fulfilling my duties?
How many prayers does it take Jesus? How many?
10 prayers for you to heal my Dad?
17 prayers to bring my unsaved friend into your fold? 3 prayers
for my sister’s job interview? How many prayers does it take for
you to
move, to intervene, to rescue, to heal, to help, to be manifested, to
save, to
splinter strongholds…how many!
These things take time
Fine. Then give me
the patience not just for this long hard battle but for you to finally
answer
my prayers. Patience to see what you are
doing…patience to recognize your timing is best. Couple my
urgency with your patience. For what you see is more than I can
know.
These things take
time.
 | Ephesians 6:10-18, The Message: “And that about wraps it up. God
is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out
for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you
will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no
afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a
couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against
the Devil and all his angels. " |
|
"Be prepared. You’re up against far
more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every
weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still
be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more
than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life.
God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in
this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters.
Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind
or drops out.”
| |
 | Sammy Younan lives in the surreal suburb of Scarborough, Toronto and is a regular writer for the Canadian 24-7 website. Sammy is engaged in dynamic endeavours including launching a t-shirt company and filmmaking. He enjoys English Breakfast tea and comic books, and gummy candy makes him happy. |