Four Answers

In 2005, I visited the former transitional chairman, Charles Gyude Bryant. We chatted about many things, from politics to children, and the list goes on. Out of nowhere, he asked me, “Leymah, when you pray, how many responses do you get from God?” My answer was three – YES, NO, and WAIT.”. He said no, my dear, “it is YES, NO, WAIT, and TAKE IT!”

He went on further to say that God has a plan for all of our lives, God knows us and has a plan for all of our lives. Most times, God’s response is for our good. Yes means it is time, No means it is not good for you, and Wait means there is still a pruning process in your life. However, if you consistently beg after God has said NO or WAIT, you may get TAKE IT! TAKE IT is basically so that one sees why God said NO or WAIT in the first place.

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Recently, I have been thinking about TAKE IT and wondering how often we humans get a TAKE IT response from God. The Bible teaches us in Philippians 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (KJV)
In our desire to get things fast (fast wife, fast husband, fast money, fast position, and a lot more), we try to force the hand of God, and most times, the end is pain, suffering, sadness, and worry.

As we navigate life, let us hold fast to God and trust that God’s YES, NO, and WAIT are all for our good, Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”