Unanswered Prayers

Have you ever prayed? Whether you’re a person of faith or not, you’ve probably had a conversation with God at some point. Maybe you were asking for something out of desperation, or it could be that prayer is a part of your daily routine. No matter where you are in your spiritual journey, it’s likely you’ve experienced the disappointment of unanswered prayers. A lost pregnancy, a failed marriage, a child who went down the wrong path, or a loved one you prayed would be healed and they weren’t. I’ve been there too.

Now, let me be clear: I believe in a God who still does miracles and answers prayers. But if that’s true, you might wonder: why doesn’t it work every time? If the Bible has promises for us to hold onto, why doesn’t it always play out the way we expect? After years of study and prayer, I’ve come to this conclusion: I don’t know. Maybe it’s because our prayers are limited by our current perspective, while God sees and lives from a much broader view. Maybe it’s about timing—God isn’t saying no, but he’s saying, “Not yet.” Or maybe the answer to some of our prayers won’t come in this lifetime. I don’t have all the answers, but what I do know is that God always does the right thing. And He is always good.

As I reflected on this, I remembered a time from my childhood. I was 10 years old when my family lived in Peachtree City, Georgia. My parents had a successful homebuilding business, but then in the late 80s the economy took a downturn. Long story short, they lost everything. We packed up our belongings in a U-Haul and moved with my three siblings to my grandparents’ farm in La Grange, Texas. As a 10-year-old, I thought it was the best thing that could have happened. But my parents were devastated.

A few months ago, I asked my parents if they had prayed for a miracle, for things to work out in Georgia. They shared how hard they prayed for their business to survive, and how painful it was when those prayers went unanswered.

We don’t always get to see what’s on the other side of our unanswered prayers, but sometimes we do. Three years later, on the first day of my seventh-grade year, I sat down in Mrs. Anderle’s homeroom class at La Grange Middle School next to a new girl named Rachel. I didn’t know it then, but I had just sat down next to the person who, eight years later, would become my wife. That moment was one of many miracles that came from my parents’ unanswered prayers. Not the miracles they asked for, but the ones God wanted. My wife, my calling, and the community I love were the result of what seemed like unanswered prayers at the time.

I don’t know what’s on the other side of your unanswered prayers, but I do know that God always does the right thing, and that He is always good. You can trust Him. He cares deeply for you and is with you in your disappointment and doubts, every step of the way. If it’s been a while since you’ve prayed, maybe give Him a shout. You’ll be glad you did.