As I sit here writing tonight, I am struggling with deep disappointment. I received an answer to a prayer I have been praying for the last three months, and the answer was an emphatic and conclusive “no.” I have prayed for, hoped for, and in faith believed in a “yes” answer, but that is not the answer I was given.
So as I seek God’s face tonight and ask, “Why?” I am also asking myself “What now?”
What do I do with disappointing answers to prayer?
It is time to remember. I turn to Psalm 139 and remember:
- God knows me. He knows the past from the future and everything in between. While I have only a dashboard view of my circumstances, He has the birds eye view and sees the big picture. He has a purpose and a plan for me, from the major changes in my life to the smallest details.
- God understands me. He knows my thoughts before I even speak. He sees my disappointment, and He understands.
- God is protecting me. I might not always see it, but He is directing my paths and sheltering me from harm.
- God is always with me. There is nowhere in the universe I can go that He is not there – leading, guiding, and watching over me.
- God has a perfect plan for me. From the moment I was conceived, He was working His perfect plan in my life.
- His thoughts towards me are numerous and precious. The sovereign Creator of the Universe is thinking about me. Wow!
- He will lead me. As I submit my way to Him, He will lead me in His perfect plan for my life.
God is good. I cannot deny what I know to be true simply because of difficult circumstances, and as I sit here tonight remembering His goodness, I also remember that God wants what is best for me even more than I want what is best for me.
There are times when I do not want God’s best for me. I know … it sounds somewhat sacrilegious to speak the words, but it is the truth. When God’s will takes me down a path that is painful, I don’t really want God’s best for me in that moment. I actually want God to remove the pain and take away the difficult circumstances, despite how beneficial to me they might be in the long run. But God always wants what is best for me. And not only that – He always knows what is best for me!
Lord, help me to trust You as much when I do not get the answers I want or expect as when I do!
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