Several years ago the owner of the real estate company hired a young woman to fill a secretarial vacancy. No matter what any of us said, she took it personal. Her filthy language, hateful remarks and offensive actions alienated all of us. It was as if she had a "chip on her shoulder." If someone said, "the copier is out of paper," she would remark, "that's not my fault."  She placed a sign on her office wall: "I am not only a Bitch, I am the Queen Bitch." 

Having found God to be a very present and well-proven help in other troubling circumstances (Psalm 46:1),  I began begging Him to fix the problem. 

The more I prayed the worse the situation became. There was no let-up, no relief. I hated to be in the office. 

Finally, I prayed, if it were God's will, that He would remove Cindy [not her real name]. Two years went by and she was still there!

One day I was in the restroom and Cindy came in.  In that brief second my eyes met hers. An humbleness came over me. For the first time since I had known Cindy, I felt compassion for her. I realized immediately that Cindy was also made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27).  

From that point on I began praying for Cindy and more vigorously confessing my own sins and trying to get my complaining under control.

Several more months went by and one day while I was working in the computer room, I overheard a conversation. "Cindy is leaving the company. She has taken a job with a government agency somewhere across town."

Hearing the news that Cindy was leaving had no more effect upon me than hearing someone say it was going to rain.  What had happened?  I had imagined all that time that if God did answer my prayer I would climb up on some roof top, if I could get up there, and shout, "God answers prayer."  The relief that I had begged God for all those years, was finally coming to pass. 

Because God did not deliver me from the situation years earlier, He caused me to depend on Him day by day. He also caused me to pray for Cindy. and it was in that process that He gave me victory in the battle, rather than removing the battle from me.

God often brings us low before he helps us. And in doing this we learn that we should never think His help comes too late. The time and the manner of relief are His own. Often times He does us more good by continuing our afflictions than by the speedy removal of them. Psalm 119:71 says, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes." God knows best and He does what is best for His beloved children.

Are you experiencing trying times? Are you praying God will give you relief? Be assured that He is near enough to hear all your complaints and give you the help your soul longs to experience.  You do not need anything or anyone other than Him."O give us help against the adversary, for vain - - ineffectual and to no purpose - - is the help . . . of man" (Psalm 60:11 AMP).

Read God's word every day. Be persistent in prayer. Ask God to show you your own sins. Repent of them, and wait patiently upon Him. "Trust, lean on, rely on and have confidence in Him at all times, you people [His covenant children]; pour out your heart before Him, God is a refuge for us - - a fortress and a high tower" (Psalm 62:8 AMP).