Sometimes he delays that he may give a better, fuller
answer. A poor woman stood at a vineyard gate, and looked over into
the vineyard. "Would you like some grapes?" asked the proprietor, who
was within. "I should be very thankful," replied the woman. "Then
bring your basket." Quickly the basket was brought to the gate and
passed in. The owner took it and was gone a long time among the vines,
till the woman became discouraged, thinking he was not coming again.
At last he returned with the basket heaped full. "I have made you wait
a good while," he said, "but you know the longer you have to wait, the
better grapes and the more."
So it sometimes is in prayer. We bring our empty vessel to God and
pass it over the gate of prayer to him. He seems to be delaying a long
time, and sometimes faith faints with waiting. But at last he comes,
and our basket is heaped full with luscious blessings. He waited long
that he might bring us a better and a fuller answer. At least we are
sure that no true prayer ever really goes unanswered. We have to wait
for the fruits to ripen, and that takes time.
Then sometimes God delays until some work in us is finished, some
preparation which is needed before the best answer can be received.
The following words are suggestive:
"Unanswered yet, the prayer your lips have pleaded
In agony of heart these many years?
Does faith begin to fail? Is hope departing,
And think you all in vain those falling tears?
Say not the Father hath not heard your prayer;
You shall have your desire sometime, somewhere.
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