One of the main themes in the book of Jonah is that Jonah wants God to operate on his desired timeline. Jonah is exemplified as an extremely impatient man. He wanted God to dole out punishment on his clock, on his own predicted timing, instead of according to God's plan the perfect timing that it always takes.
Yet God showed Jonah that in his infinite wisdom, he can't and will not be rushed. Because he sees further than any human ever could, God may seem to be moving slower than people want. Yet He knows what is to come. He sees the entire plan, so he takes action on his own time.
The lesson for seniors is that while you may pray for various outcomes, it's important to remember that God already has a plan and you already have a role in it. He can and does do miraculous things, but he does so in divine time.