Did you know that there is a blessing in both answered and unanswered prayers? So many of us get caught up in the euphoria of our prayers getting answered that we run the risk of getting stuck in disappointment when our prayers don’t get answered. Answered prayers show us that God hears us. Unanswered prayers show that God loves us and wants to protect us.
For example, as I get older, I am more grateful for things not working out when I reconnect with people that years ago I wanted to be in a relationship with. I didn’t see it then but years later I realized what God was trying to protect me from. Psalm 84:11 says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” It was frustrating when I prayed for God to “work it out” and nothing happened. However, years later, I am thankful that God loved me enough to not answer those prayers.
Why does God answer some prayers and then allow others to go unanswered? Unanswered prayers are normally the result of us praying for things that are not the best for us. Despite our desires, sometimes God does not answer all of our prayers because it may not be part of His perfect will for us. Most likely, it’s because he has something or someone better,
We can not figure out God’s sovereign will for our lives; we are only called to obey it. Sometimes the prayer is not prayed with the best intentions and motivations. For our own protection, he doesn’t give us what we think we need.
How many times have you prayed to get that promotion or for that relationship to work out only to be disappointed when things don’t work out? Then, a few weeks, months, or years later, we realize that person or circumstance wasn’t the best for us. Remember, God knows what’s best for us as explained in Jeremiah 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Another reason why these prayers go unanswered is because there are sometimes prayers that are prayed out of emotion and not purpose. James 4:1-4 says that prayers that are prayed amiss or off-target will also go unanswered. When your prayer is not answered, we should seek God’s will to see if it is a prayer that you need to continue to pray.
One blessing of unanswered prayers is that it forces our fleshly desires to die like Philippians 1:21 says. Unanswered prayers keep us on our knees and praying to God for a breakthrough, deliverance, restoration, etc. In the loss of an unanswered prayer, we gain the more important benefit and blessing of a closer, more meaningful walk with God.
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, we should be grateful to God for both answered and unanswered prayers. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Shewanda Riley is a Fort Worth, Texas based author of “Love Hangover: Moving from Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends” and “Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart: A Book of Prayers for Writers.” Email her at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or follow her on Twitter @shewanda.