Unanswered Prayers

I doubt that I am the only person whose prayers have gone unanswered. Actually, the answer to my petitions may have been “no,” or there might have been a delay in the response I had hoped for, so in essence it was not really unanswered. It was just not the answer that I desired. I know God is able, but why doesn’t He just do the miracles we need. Sometimes, we feel God is not listening because our flesh gets in the way.

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear. Isaiah 59:1-2

I have been guilty in ministry, doing activities that I have been asked to do and although I may have been uneasy in my spirit about doing it, I still went ahead as I didn’t want to disappoint people. And in the end, my efforts were of little avail because God was not pleased as it was not His will. It may have looked like a godly thing to do, but we must always remember that satan disguises as an angel of light, while in fact he is more like a roaring lion prowling around seeking someone to devour. That is why we must always be on the alert and sober minded, while asking God to give us discernment of spirits. The devil will play on our compassion and passion to bring about his desired result – our destruction. That is why we must be still and know God, not just know about Him. It is in truly knowing God, that we will be able to determine the truth from what is false. And, He will convict us when we are walking in our flesh instead of His Spirit.

If we want to be blessed by God we must be in His will, doing things His way, in His time. Sometimes God has truly given us a vision, but in our strength we try to make it happen out of His season. Ishmael is proof of this mistake and for centuries we have all suffered the consequences of what was not God’s will. Yet, God allows us to have free will and our decisions do not take Him by surprise. His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us, but in our zeal to prosper, we sometimes step out of His plans and do things our way, which can cause great harm not only to ourselves, but also to many others.

Nevertheless, sin or being out of God’s will aren’t the only reasons why our prayers seemingly go unanswered. I know God can, put as I pray I wonder, “Will He?” “Will He heal my shoulder after it has dislocated nearly twenty times after having surgery?” “Will He shrink the fibroids so that I don’t have to go under the knife?” “Why can’t I have money and just live a normal life?’ “Am I being punished for something I did wrong?” Many of us have asked similar questions as we encounter health, financial, relationship and so many other issues. Where is God in all this? Why does He seem so distant and so silent in the midst of the pain?

Paul pleaded with God to take away the thorn in his side which was tormenting him, however God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) It is in our weakness that God shows Himself strong. This may be a painful truth for us to swallow because God’s will may not be our preference, but it is for His glory. God tells us to open our mouths and He will fill it, but instead we have followed strange gods to offer us a panacea. (See Psalms 81:9-10) In spite of Paul’s trials, he stayed committed to the Lord.

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my being weak? Who is led into sin without my intense concern? If I have to boast, I will boast of what pertains to my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, He who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. 2 Corinthians 11:23-31

The truth is God has constantly not answered my prayers the way I would like. But, as I look back, I have thanked Him for every unanswered prayer, because what I thought I needed could have eventually been harmful and would not have given Him the glory. We only know in part, however God knows fully and He loves fully. What may look like a painful situation that has beset us is a circumstance in which God can pour out His great love on us. And even in pain, God can bring great gain.