Why does God keep us waiting sometimes, and delay an answer to prayer? Thomas Watson, a Puritan pastor from 350 years ago, suggested a number of reasons:

• Because he loves to hear the voice of prayer. – “You let the musician play for a long while before you throw down the money, because you love to hear his music.”
• That God might humble us. We may too easily assume we merit some ready answer, or that he is at our beck and call like a butler, not as sovereign Lord.
• It may be that God sees we are not yet fit or ready for the mercy we seek. It could be there are a million pieces to the puzzle and some things have to go first to make way for others.
• Finally, that the mercy we pray for may be the more prized, and may be sweeter when it comes.