I was searching a hymn website a few weeks ago and came across the words to a song titled “Unanswered Yet”, written in 1894 by a singing evangelist named Charles Tillman.  Immediately, I felt a bond with the hymnwriter – seems he had learned some lessons in the waiting, too.  When I shared them with my sister, she  found the song in an old hymbook, this time with the title “Sometime, Somewhere”.   The hymnbook belonged to my grandmother.  The page was turned down.  I wonder what Charles Tillman was praying for, and I wonder if the words to the song had some special meaning to my grandmother.  The vocabulary may be from another time, but the prayers and the promises are timeless.  Savor these words.  Mull them over.  And be reminded once again that if your prayer has been unanswered yet, God will answer – sometime, somewhere.

Sometime, Somewhere by Charles Tillman, 1894

Unanswered yet?
The prayers 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,
You shall have your desire, sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet?
Though when you first presented
This one petition at the Father’s throne,
It seemed you could not wait the time of asking,
So urgent was your heart to make it known.
Though years have passed since then, do not despair;
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere,
The Lord will answer you, sometime, somewhere.

Unanswered yet?
Nay, do not say ungranted;
Perhaps your part is not yet wholly done;
The work began when first your prayer was uttered,
And God will finish what He has begun.
If you will keep the incense burning there,
His glory you shall see, sometime somewhere,
His glory you shall see, sometime somewhere.

Unanswered yet?
Faith cannot be unanswered;
Her feet were firmly planted on the Rock;
Amid the wildest storm prayer stands undaunted,
Nor quail before the loudest thunder shock.
She knows Omnipotence has heard her prayer,
And cries, “It shall be done,” sometime, somewhere,
And cries, “It shall be done,” sometime, somewhere.

“And it shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear”  Isaiah 65:24