If I truly believe that God is good and all-powerful, my prayers are not limited to smaller easier things that I believe God might be able to do.
Our past has a way of stunting our prayer life. It seems the longer we have lived here on earth, and the longer we have walked with Jesus, we have seen or experienced personally “unanswered prayers.” Without even being consciously aware of it, we may begin to hold back from how we pray to our Father. We begin to lose amazement at God’s holiness and power. We limit Him within our minds. Maybe God didn’t save because God couldn’t save. Maybe God didn’t provide because He couldn’t provide.
Our minds begin to lose some of the awe and wonder of God. We start to convolute God’s authority and minimize His understanding and perspective, which far exceeds our own.
How many times has God not given me what I asked Him for?
It has struck me again and again this past week that God does not always give us what we want, but He always gives what we need.
There have been times where I prayed with all my heart for a relationship with a boyfriend to work into something more than just a dating relationship. It did not happen.
There have been times where I prayed for restoration of my marriage to occur. It did not happen.
There have been times where I prayed for healing for loved ones. Some have still not been healed while others have passed on to Heaven.
I have prayed for jobs, finances, friendships, family, help, protection… you name it, I have probably at one time or another prayed it – and God may not have given me what I asked for.
But God is not silent. God is no less loving in a “no answer” than He is when He answers with “yes.”
I cannot even begin to list the ways that God has answered my prayers. I cannot list them, because my awareness is only capable of seeing in part! What I do know is that God has provided me with great love in my life: both from others and for others. God has answered prayers of healing for friends and family that were next to impossible to complete: yet what is impossible with men is possible with God! God is not silent, in fact He is listening, moving, protecting, guarding, directing, blessing, healing, providing and loving in ways we cannot see or comprehend.
Therefore, “In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.” (Ephesians 3:12) “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) “And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19)
Friend, may we never hesitate to bring ALL our needs and requests before our Heavenly Father. And may we never doubt His goodness, regardless of His response to them.
Blessings!