What happens to your unanswered prayers?
Have you ever had unanswered prayers? How did you feel about it? I know hundreds of people who have been confused by prayers that seem to be unanswered.
As a new Christian, I had incredible faith in God. He had done so much in my life in just a few years that I had crazy faith. My prayers were radical. I’ll never forget the day my faith was tested. While I was driving my fiancée and members of her family to our destination, we ran out of gas. The whole group waited for a miracle as I asked God to supernaturally fill my tank. We waited and waited as I tried to start the car several times but to no avail. I was forced to face this incredible dilemma: what do you say when your prayers are not answered as you hoped they would be?
Even though God did not fill my gas tank as I had asked, a roadside service rescued us with a few gallons of free gas. Did God answer my prayer in a different way? Was it still a miracle?
I’m sharing this simple story because it’s become a foundation for helping me understand God and the role of prayer. Here are two good Scriptures about prayer: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16, NKJV) and “‘Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 18:19, NKJV)
friend, I’d like to offer you a few ways to interpret this dilemma of unanswered prayers:
- Are you asking for the wrong thing?
- Is God answering your prayer in another way?
- Do you need to find prayer support from someone else?
- Is the answer “No”?
- Is your prayer being delayed by an unseen force?
I believe God always answers our prayers, but sometimes we have a hard time interpreting His answers. Don’t give up on prayer because that’s how you become a miracle.
