MORNING MANNA 10-10-23
UNANSWERED PRAYER
Contrary to what we think, God always answers our prayers. He either says “yes“, “no”, or “later”. But it’s common for us to speak of prayer as being unanswered when we don’t receive what we request. Sometimes we want answers and God isn’t talking. Sometimes we experience “needs” and God isn’t giving. How do you explain it? How can a loving God ignore our requests, crush our dreams, and strip us of our happiness? Should we really thank God for unanswered prayers? Yes–we should. Although we don’t understand His ways, He does all things well–even when He denies our desires. God’s answers are much wiser than our prayers and He loves us too much to let us have whatever we want.
We need to learn to look at things as He does, the best we can. Our main desire should not be for comfort and cheer, but for Christ-like character, and that is what God is working to create in our life(Rom. 8:29). Contrary to what we think or desire, pain is often better for us than pleasure, loss is better than gain, and sorrow is better than joy in the plan God is working out in our lives. We often need the opposite of what we desire, we just don’t realize it. Sometimes we need disaster rather than deliverance, because that’s what it takes to make us humble.
When God withholds what we desire it doesn’t mean He isn’t giving us what is best. God loves you just as much when He denies your request as He does when He grants it. So when it seems that the heavens are brass and God is deaf, take comfort in the fact that God knows what we need most and He gives us what is best. Trust Him instead of trying to understand Him, and thank Him for unanswered prayers!- HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, Tx
