I think one of the hardest things to live with in your faith is knowing GOD had the power to change something……and HE didn’t. If you are living with a current unanswered prayer that has gone on for years, this is a hard thing. It is hard to persist in asking, never giving up and yet trusting GOD that HE sees what you cannot.
EPHESIANS 6: 18 “WITH EVERY PRAYER AND REQUEST, PRAY AT ALL TIMES IN THE SPIRIT, AND WITH THIS IN VIEW, BE ALERT WITH ALL PERSEVERANCE AND EVERY REQUEST FOR ALL THE SAINTS.”
In this persistence of prayer this is where everything we say we believe about our GOD is truly tested. And so, we might not have an answer, we might not ever get an answer, but we do have our great GOD!
Prayers answered and prayers not answered is one of the great mysteries of GOD. Why HE says yes, no or maybe to one person and not another, I will never understand as long as I walk this earth. What we cannot explain here about our GOD does not change who HE has revealed HIMSELF to be…….a great, loving, just and faithful ONE.
In our instant culture I thing we want instant answers to our prayers, but GOD doesn’t work that way…….
2 PETER 3: 8 “BUT DO NOT OVERLOOK THIS ONE FACT, BELOVED, THAT WITH THE LORD ONE DAY IS AS A THOUSAND YEARS, AND A THOUSAND YEARS AS ONE DAY.”
GOD’S timing will never be ours which is another mystery and hard to understand. But I think I can speak for many of us when we have had a prayer answered and it was so perfectly timed that you stood in awe of HIM!
Back to those unanswered prayers that have been there for years. I myself have a couple of them. I wake up each day thinking maybe today is the day one will get answered. Over time it can become heavy, but at the same time I know GOD walks alongside me saying: a little while longer dear one.
The enemy would love for us to give up on our unanswered prayers because then he can say “see……. told ya your GOD doesn’t care!” But I refuse to give in and I also can look at this situation as to what GOD is doing within me. HE has made me more patient, more understanding and more humble I believe. All are qualities that GOD wants to instill in us and the more we pray, the more we release with our hands what we hold onto in this world. GOD knows what we need where we are going and what cannot go there.
1 PETER 2: 19 “FOR THIS IS A GRACIOUS THING, WHEN MINDFUL OF GOD, ONE ENDURES SORROWS WHILE SUFFERING UNJUSTLY.”
I like the above verse for two reasons. It says our situation can be a gracious thing, full of HIS mercy for us, even if we don’t understand. And I also think this verse can encourage us to endure our sorrows, sorrows of even unanswered prayers and feeling like “why me LORD?” We might think we are suffering unjustly, but I have to believe GOD has HIS reasons. And then I remind myself that our LORD JESUS CHRIST suffered for all of us and our sins on the Cross. Why wouldn’t GOD want to teach us a little about suffering to understand it!
Today I don’t know where you are or what situation you face, but don’t let your faith waiver just because a prayer is not answered. The LORD still sits on the throne and loves you. Remember this:
PSALM 103:12 “AS FAR AS THE EAST IS FROM THE WEST, SO FAR HAS HE REMOVED OUR TRANSGRESSIONS FROM US.”
We are forgiven and we are loved. Our debt is paid in full……whether our prayers are answered or not. Remind yourself today……. that YOU are dearly LOVED!
JOHN 3: 16 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHALL NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
