Play along with me for a moment.

As a by-product of your employment you are required to travel periodically. Initially doing so had a sense of mystique and expectation with it.

However, it has now become routine as you are in and out of airport terminals more than you care to admit and you expect the process of flying to go off without a hitch.

Typically you might monitor your flight status on an app you can access via your smart phone. Today, you overslept and you are short on time to get to the airport.

Upon arrival at the airport concourse, your first thought is to check the Departures board to check the status of your flight. The words DELAYED or CANCELED are not descriptions you want to see associated with your flight as the day would become an obstacle course you would prefer to avoid.

You look up at the Departures board and listed next to your flight are the magic words, ON TIME.

Thank you Wright Brothers!

If life were only as predictable and on time as this particular airline flight.

Are there situations or concerns for which you have sincerely prayed only to experience delays or no apparent answers at all?

The words ON TIME seemingly do not appear next to your prayer requests.

In fact, all you see is a blank slate and left unchecked it is amplified by doubt that the answer you are seeking will come at all.

I can empathize with you as I am at this crossroads now.

I once was in a life and death situation where I cried to the Lord, “I need your help and I need it now!”

If my desperation prayer was not answered pronto I would not be enjoying the presence of your virtual company at this moment.

In this specific situation, God’s answer to me was assuredly ON TIME.

Most of the time the answer to our prayers is a perceived delay causing us to wonder if our prayers were heard at all.

They are heard, as the following verses suggest:

“And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.” (1 John 5:14-15 NLT)

What I have learned in my faith journey of nearly a half-century is this – God’s answer to my prayers is always on time even when it does not look like it.

His time, not mine.

As I sat down to write today, the following words came forth as a refreshing spring.

I took a moment to process some things before God as certain prayers I have offered appear to be on delay when I believe they can be classified as I-need-your-help-now prayers.

I share the intimacy of my silent utterances to God with you in the hope you too come to realize His answers to your prayers are always on time.

“I simply need to write free form to process some things. You are in the quiet moments and I find you in the stillness. I came across a new worship song from Elevation Worship called Always on Time. I have listened to this song repeatedly as it’s message is critical to me.

It has captivated my attention as a love song written by you, my Father, directly to my needy heart.

When I can’t see the answers to my prayers, you are always on time. When I feel like I am free-falling, you are always on time.

You have always seen me through every minute, every moment – there never has been a time where you were not on time. You have been beside me during each step of my journey both past and present.

It is in the process of remembering your acts of faithfulness where you have demonstrated how you are always on time.

You have carried me.

You have sustained me.

You have helped me stand when I did not have the strength to do so.

As the lyrics state, although I may have been tossed in the water, I did not go under.

There has never been a time where you have not seen me through.

When my heart fails to see your work in my life, you are always on time.

When my eyes cannot see the evidence of your presence, you have always been on time.

In the uncertainty of any given moment my mind sees question marks. You have always provided an answer.

You are there in my dark moments. You have sustained me and lit the path.

At the moment it is hard for my mind not to steer toward the constant question I have – what’s next?

You have carried me when I did not have the strength to continue on.

Jesus, you have been the fourth man in the fire, walking right beside me.

The words keep crashing like holy waves washing over me – you are always on time.

You have always seen me through even when I could not see it. You have held me when I needed your reassurance. You have always come through, despite not specifically being privy to the exact steps in the moment.

Surround me with your presence. I declare by faith you are always on time. It is the song in my heart, you always seen me through God. In declaring this truth, I worship you.

I am getting the message. Forgive me for the times where I have allowed my unbelief to quell the truth of knowing you are always on time. When I did not know how or where to turn, you have always been on time.

You have been a good, good Father right beside me, taking care of me by stepping into each moment.

When my mind races, you are always on time. You have not left me alone to figure things out. You have a plan to effect in my life. You know the beginning from the end. You see it all. There is nothing you cannot work out. You are always on time.

I prefer seeing. You prefer that I walk by faith knowing you are always on time.”

If you question whether your prayers are heard or delayed, it is my sincere desire this encourages you to find a place of hope in experiencing this fact – He is always on time.

If doubt washes up on your shore, do yourself a favor and check out this music video from Elevation Worship as it will reaffirm the truth of God always being on time in your life as well.