Matthew 21:22 tells us, “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”đ¨Spoiler AlertâŚGod doesnât always answers our prayers with a âyesâ! Too often we fail to see the answer to our prayers because it doesnât look the way we expected when it comes to us. Iâve heard it said that God answers prayers in one of three ways. God says âYes,â and you receive what you ask for. God says âNot yet,â and you have to accept it and be patient. Or God says âNoâ because He has something better in mind.
I love country đ¤ music đľand one of my favorite artist is legendary Garth Brooks. The chorus in his song, entitled âUnanswered Prayerâ says, âRemember when youâre talkinâ to the man upstairs. That just because he doesnât answer, doesnât mean he doesnât care. âCause some of Godâs greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.â Brooks suggests that God cares deeply enough to do what is best for us, even if we donât understand at the time.
At the end of the day God knows whatâs best. Therefore even if we donât get what we think we need we should not let that impede in our prayer life. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the Apostle Paul encourages us to âPray without Ceasing.â Prayer is not a vending machine; it is a simply a conversation with God. Prayer is opening your heart to him and sharing what matters most. Prayer is seeking Godâs will not our own. Undoubtedly, time spent with God changes us and it changes things. It helps us see the big picture (Godâs picture). It reminds us we arenât alone and it affirms that we are loved.
Charles Spurgeon once said of God, â[A Christian] trusts him where [he] cannot trace him.â When the dark night of the soul comes, when the tears flow over like a river after a rainstorm, and when our prayers seem to bounce off the ceiling, we can rest assured that our prayers are heard and answered not just by the God who reigns, but by the God who provides, nourishes, and promises to make all things new.
4GIVEN 