Have you ever prayed for something and not received an answer? It can be a frustrating and even heartbreaking experience.
But there is another way to look at unanswered prayers. In fact, there are many blessings that come from having our prayers go unanswered.
For me to understand unanswered prayers has required the help of time and hindsight. I have been an impatient person my entire life.
But as I have slowly moved through life and the years and all the wishes, hopes, and prayers a pattern has emerged that is very clear and consistent; you get the things you need.
I do not normally have an opportunity to quote the Rolling Stones, but this post gives me the dubious chance to do just that.
“You can’t always get what you want
but if you try sometimes, well, you might find
you get what you need.”
– The Rolling Stones
5 Reasons Why Unanswered Prayers are a Blessing
1. Unanswered prayers give us an opportunity to trust God/Universe more
When our prayers go unanswered, it can be tempting to question God’s plan for us. But instead of getting caught up in frustration, we can use this as an opportunity to have more trust.
After all, He knows what is best for us, even when we don’t. Unanswered prayers also give us a chance to practice patience and learn to be content with what we have.
In fact, some of God’s greatest gifts come after we’ve been forced to wait for them.
So next time your prayers go unanswered, remember that there is a reason for it. And who knows, the blessing you’re waiting for could be just around the corner.
Heck, you may have already received what you wanted and just can’t see it yet. Kind of like this; you are praying and praying for a car to get you to night school and work because you are sick and tired of the bus and who wouldn’t be?
Month after month no car and not enough money to get one. Well, in my little fictitious example here, what happened during those months of wanting a car a person saw you needed help getting to and from work and school and they started giving you a ride when they could.
And the friendship grew and so did the frequency of the rides. This is what I’m talking about. Your prayer for a car is not answered but the transportation need is satisfied, and you made a new friend.
Why did God answer you this way? I have no idea. It is for each of us to figure out these lessons.
We need to be smart, clever and sophisticated enough to see what is happening around us and realize that unanswered prayers are answered you just have to be able to see with more than just your eyes and desires.
2. Unanswered prayers can lead us to greater compassion for others
There’s an old saying that goes, “be careful what you wish for because you just might get it.” And while that may be true in some cases, there’s also something to be said for unanswered prayers.
After all, when our prayers go unanswered, it can lead us to greater compassion for others.
Think about it: when we see someone else going through a difficult time, we can’t help but put ourselves in their shoes and imagine how we would feel if we were in their situation.
We can’t help but feel empathy for them. And that’s a good thing. Because when we have compassion for others, we’re more likely to offer them our support and encouragement – exactly the things they need to get through whatever they’re going through.
So, while unanswered prayers may not always be fun, they can certainly lead to some positive outcomes.
3. Unanswered prayers challenge us to grow
Have you ever prayed for something and not received an answer? It can be a maddening experience, especially if it’s something you really want or need.
But it’s important to remember that unanswered prayers aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, they can be a challenge to help us grow.
For example, say you pray for a new job, but don’t get it. Instead of getting discouraged, use the opportunity to learn more about yourself and what you’re looking for in a career.
Take the time to explore different options and to develop your skills. Who knows? The job you end up with maybe even better than the one you originally wanted.
So next time your prayers go unanswered, remember that it might just be God’s way of helping you grow. We don’t necessarily need a Spiritual Awakening we just need to practice seeing with our minds as well as our eyes.
4. Unanswered prayers help us see it was just not meant to be
Have you ever prayed for something fervently, only to be disappointed when it didn’t happen? It’s natural to feel let down in these situations.
However, it’s important to remember that unanswered prayers don’t necessarily mean that God has abandoned us. Instead, they can often be a sign that what we’re praying for just wasn’t meant to be.
If you are a fan of Garth Brooks then you know the song and the part where he sees an old lover that at one time, he wanted for all time, but that prayer was not answered and he is happy for God’s greatest gift, Unanswered Prayers.
I have had that exact same situation in a past relationship. I am confident that many people reading this are happy today that that prayer, about being with someone from your past, was not answered for them too.
That doesn’t mean that our prayers were pointless – far from it. Prayers can help us to clarify our thoughts and desires, and to develop a deeper understanding of what we truly need.
I suggest you write that prayer down and make it a goal and get to work.
In some cases, prayers may even help us to see that the thing we thought we wanted wasn’t really in our best interests after all.
Imagine getting everything you pray for, have you ever seen a kid that gets everything they want? Yeah, me too, it’s a nightmare situation.
So next time you find yourself feeling frustrated by an unanswered prayer, try to remember that there may be a greater plan at work – even if we don’t always understand it.
5. Unanswered prayers remind us that we are not in control
It’s a familiar feeling – you pray for something, and it doesn’t happen. Maybe it’s a big thing, like healing from an illness, or maybe it’s a small thing, like finding a parking spot.
Either way, it can be upsetting. But unanswered prayers can also be a good reminder that we are not in control.
We may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but we can trust that God has a plan. Sometimes, what we pray for isn’t what’s best for us. And that’s okay.
It would be hard to imagine a world where all our prayers were answered: Everyone would live in big homes and have perfect teeth and be beautiful and never feel any pain and so on… Not a practical world at all.
So, we must work with the world we have been graciously given.
So next time you find yourself feeling disappointed or angry about an unanswered prayer, remember that it might just be God’s way of saying, “Trust me.”
In Conclusion
It’s important to remember that unanswered prayers are not necessarily a bad thing.
Sometimes, they can lead to positive outcomes like greater compassion for others, or an opportunity to grow.
Other times, they may be a sign that what we’re praying for just wasn’t meant to be.
In any case, unanswered prayers can be a reminder that we are not in control, and that we need to let go of our own plans and trust in God’s wisdom. Visit David at davidfblack.com
