Unanswered Prayers

Peace family, what can we do when it feels like our prayers are unanswered? What does it mean when we can’t see God’s good working in a situation? How do we cling to him when circumstances feel unnecessarily cruel?

There’s a pretty prevalent false belief that by giving our lives to Christ, we will have some sort of immunity from difficulties and instead have perfect health, love, and finances, but it’s not true. God does bless us, and he does equip us to approach a hurting and hurtful world with his truth and his love, but bad things are going to happen to us from time to time. However, we can seek His peace even in and despite the difficulties in this fallen world.

God never promised perfect or easy lives to us. Before Jesus was crucified, he told the disciples, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV, John 16:33) We will certainly have trouble in our lives, too, but even if we feel overwhelmed, God will still be victorious, and he will pull us through, as we let him. The Bible says that our trials produce perseverance, and God will comfort those who mourn.

If your prayers feel futile today, remember that God hears you. He sees what’s going on. He hears the crying of your heart and remembers you. Trust that he is near. It’s simply his character, proven time and time again in the Bible and in millions of personal lives.

If your prayers are about people, he has greater love for them than our own hearts can hold. If your prayers are about circumstances, he knows the future and he will not abandon you to walk through any fate alone. Especially if there’s nothing that you can do about the thing that needs God’s movement, hand it over to him and do not let the devil destroy your joy. Remember that God will be glorified, and he will ultimately be victorious, no matter what we face here on earth, be it failures, heartaches we never asked for, or circumstances where we see no positive purpose or solution.

Peace family, my prayer for you today is for peace beyond all understanding, that no matter what is breaking your heart today, you can lean back on God and trust that he is God and he is good. No matter how impossible your situation seems, may God strengthen you, give you courage, and draw you closer to himself.