And he said to his servant,

"Go up now,

         look toward the sea."

And he went up and looked

and said, "There is nothing."

And he said,

                  "Go again,"

       seven times.

And at the seventh time

he said,

   "Behold a little cloud

    like a man's hand

         is rising from the sea."

                1 Kings 18. 43-44

(That's what faithfulness does.

It is not that God isn't answering,

but the time is not yet ripe,

nor am I ready

      for how God is answering.

Am I seeking God in this

  or a singular answer

          of my own choosing?

"Where there is such prevailing prayer,  

      something is bound to happen."

                      --Corrie Ten Boom

Whether seven times

      or seventy times seven.)

O LORD,

Help me to seek You in this,

knowing You will not just answer,

       but You already are working

in unexpected ways,

in unlikely places,

in Your timing,

         for Your purposes,

         for Your glory,

                 not mine.

I am the one

     who is missing out

           not on the trinket I seek,

but in knowing You more.

You are not just here;

               You are.