When Prayers Aren't Answered

When I was still teaching, I remember praying constantly for the Lord to provide me with a teaching job at a different school than the one I was at. This was during a time when teaching was a highly regarded profession, and there were few job opportunities available. The available ones, you basically had to know someone.

It was a very tough work environment. I would cry regularly, and many times I didn’t want to go to work. I was at that same school for seven years. I interviewed for positions at other schools but didn’t get another offer.  It was so hard because I wanted to be at another school so badly.

I remember how frustrated I felt because I kept praying and God wasn’t answering. Much like my friend that I mentioned in the last blog, God didn’t seem to be coming through. I felt that this job was breaking me. It was hard to get up and go to work every day. I couldn’t understand why God would keep me in a place that was doing so much harm to me emotionally.

Sometimes we can get wrapped up in wondering why our desires haven’t been fulfilled. We get stuck on why God isn’t giving us what we want.

Doesn't He know how much we need this?

I’m reminded just how often we think that God isn’t giving us what we want because he doesn’t love us. In reality, he cares so much that he isn’t giving us what we want, because ultimately it isn't what is best for us at that time, or maybe not at all.

After seven years at the same school, a better position finally became available. The job I had been praying and praying for had finally come. Only the job wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a full-time teaching position, but that isn’t the role God gave me. Instead, he gave me the job of stay-at-home mom. I honestly didn’t want to stay home. It was my dream to teach.

At that moment, I didn’t realize that God had answered my prayer with the role I truly needed. It wasn't until many years later that I realized that God answered my prayer. It just looked different than I thought it would.

I believe there are times that God doesn’t give us our desires because they aren’t best for us.

I think there are also times that we aren't ready, no matter how ready we think we are, and God is working to prepare us for what is coming

There are also times, I believe, when our prayers haven’t been answered yet because God wants to partner with us, and He is waiting for us to move in obedience. We can’t get a new job if we aren’t filling out the applications. Sometimes we have to take a step with God in the direction He is calling us to.

There might be times when God is waiting for us to surrender something to Him.

Our desires that we are praying for might not line up with God’s plan for our lives. What we want may seem like it is good and right for us, but God sees all. He sees the big picture, and if it isn’t happening, there is a reason.

I encourage you to tell God how you are feeling. He can handle your emotions.

I also encourage your to pray!

1.  Pray and ask God to reveal if it isn’t His plan. 

2.  Pray and ask Him to help you surrender it if it isn’t part of His plan.

3.  Pray and ask God to show you what He wants us to learn through this time.

4. Pray and ask if there is something you need to surrender or another act of obedience.

Last thing and this is probably the hardest, Praise Him! Even when you don't feel like it. We praise Him because of who He is, not what He can do for us. Praise helps put our mind set on God.

I know it can be frustrating and so hard, but keep waiting, keep trusting, and keep praying. 

God's plan is always better than ours because He knows the path we are on and He can see where we are going.