It is very exciting when you pray for something and you see God answers your prayer exactly the way you wanted. But what happens when those prayers go unanswered or if the answer is exactly the opposite of what you wanted to happen? Why does this happen? What is God’s purpose?
Over the last 46 years, I have seen a lot of my prayers answered, unanswered or eventually answered. I would love to share with you some of the things I have learned on this topic of answered prayers.
Why God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers
1.We pray with wrong motives
There are times when your prayers go unanswered because your heart isn’t in the right place. Only God truly knows what is in your heart.
James 4:3 – “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”
2. God has something better in store for you
Let’s say you really want a specific job and you didn’t get it. You wonder why. Remember God sees the big picture. He knows what is best for you. I can’t tell you how many times, God answered “no” to my prayers and closed a door. Only to open up a MUCH BETTER door that I never thought possible!
Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thought than your thoughts.”
3. Our Heavenly Father wants us to trust Him
There are some devasting things that happened while growing up that I will never understand why they had to happen. Some of those events included:
- my brother died in a tragic car accident when he was only 21 years old.
- my mom was almost murdered when I was 14 years old and tragically her best friend was murdered.
- the person who murdered my mom’s best friend wasn’t held responsible and never served time in prison.
Sometimes you can’t make sense out of certain events or situations. However, one thing you can be assured of is that you can trust the Almighty God who created the heavens, earth, and you. He will work things out somehow, someway the best interest of those who love Him.
One thing I have learned is that you can always trust God even when things don’t make sense!
Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him; and he will make your paths straight.”
What Does the Bible Say About Your Life?
When you think about your life, you were not made only for the here and now. You were made for eternity!
Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”
God created you to live during a specific time on earth. He knew before you took your first breath, when you would be born!
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.”
Psalm 139:16 – “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Job 14:5 – “A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
A Taste of Heaven
On earth, life isn’t always easy and it DEFINITELY doesn’t always make sense. But you need to remember that this planet is not our final destination. We were made for eternity! You have something to look forward to where eternity will be absolutely perfect! There will be no pain or suffering.
Revelations 21:4 – “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
When you get to heaven, you will know the reasons for things that happened here on earth. You will understand why God allowed certain things in your lives and in the lives of your loved ones.
1 Corinthians 13:12 – “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
All verses are NIV unless otherwise specified.
Praising God for However Your Prayers Have Been Answered
Regardless of how God answered your prayers, you should always praise Him. God knows what is best for you and has his reasons. We are finite and limited in our abilities, God is not.
You can always ask God to show you what good can come from the way He chose to answer your prayers. Wait and expect Him to answer because He will!
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
If You Are the First-Generation Christian in Your Family
You don’t have a blueprint to follow. You don’t have God stories from family members to cling on to. However, YOU can start sharing your God stories with your family members and future generations to come! You can be the chain breaker in your family!
I have so many God stories that I share with family and friends. When we share our stories, it gives hope to others who are in a season of waiting.
Helpful Resources:
Below are some books on prayer by some trusted Biblical teachers. Please click the links below to learn more about each book on prayer. You can also purchase them too, if you like.
Affiliate Disclosure: “The links under the Helpful Resources” page of my blog are affiliate links. If you purchase through the links above, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I personally trust and believe will benefit first generation Christians.
Reflection Questions:
- Have you seen God answer some of your prayers in a way that you expected?
- Are you still waiting for God to answer a specific prayer?
Challenge:
- Write down in a journal all the ways God has answered your prayers.
- Continue to journal all the major and minor ways that God has been at work in your life and how God has responded to your prayers.
- What physical reminder would help you recall of a time when God made a way when there seemed to be no way? This physical reminder could help keep your heart encouraged while you are waiting for God to respond to a new prayer request.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you so much for who you are and for all that you have done for me. Help me to identify the big and small ways you have shown up in my life. It is such a huge blessing that you hear all of my prayers and answer each one in a way that has my best interest in mind. I am so in awe of you! Thank you for being my God, my provider and my protector.
I pray all this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Let’s Stay in Touch!
If this blog has helped you in any way or if you have a specific question regarding being a first-generation Christian, please email me at Denise@DeniseLBeyerle.com.
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