Guest Post by Ifeoma Samuel
Have you ever felt like your prayers were going unanswered?
“Mummy, why is God not answering my prayers?” the curious mind of my almost eight year old daughter.
“Which one exactly?” I probed.
“I asked the Lord to give us a baby.” She stated plainly.
“God knows you need a baby. He will answer. Perhaps it’s not yet time”, trying to give a brief answer.
“Mummy, everyone else have a baby brother and sister. I am alone”. Now, she wanted something more concrete for a response.
Our human minds will always search for answers to make sense of our trials. We try to figure out the "why" and process the "what." #StoriesOfHope #UnansweredPrayers @PNMBlog Click To TweetThe last time we spoke about having a baby brother or sister, we just left her friend’s house. They are four siblings. “They have lots of fun together, but I am all alone,” my daughter said. That was the intro of a very hard conversation.
She didn’t want to go home. She felt like I had pulled her by the hair and dragged her home. Was she trying to return the compliment? I wasn’t sure where this conversation was headed exactly. Possibly a sleepover or another visit?
Nothing prepared me for having this talk. I had to pull myself together and just listen to her go on and on. I drove home with tears in my eyes.
How do I discuss medicals, and several trials or losses, or even going for an emergency op with this child?
I asked the Lord to hear the heart of His daughter.
It is not in me to create a child.
I have no power to answer her prayers.
I do not have it in me to help even myself. (Jeremiah 10:23)
How do we respond when prayers seem unanswered?
Do your prayers ever seem to go unanswered? Have you prayed and prayed, and yet God seemed silent over your matter?
You know the devil constantly reminds us of what God has not done or what He is not doing.
By the second time my daughter asked me the same question, my response was different. I didn’t take the easy route. I gave The Word.
“What He has written, He has written. What He has said, He will do. God will never go back on His Word. What He will do, He will do. Do you believe?” I questioned her.
“Yes, mummy.” She gave an affirmative yes!
“Keep praying. Keep reminding Him of His promise. But whether or not God does what you want, you will keep believing, right? You will keep your fighting boots on?” My confidence and Her faith reassured at the same time.
“Now.. have you stopped to take account of the prayers He has answered?”
She said, “mummy God has answered a lot of my prayers though!”
“That’s great! So we know that this one too, He would answer!” I assured her.
She went on to other talking points. Then I breathed. A big sigh of relief.
Thankfully, this time our conversation about another sibling ended with a loud reassurance that God has not forgotten. And that He is well able to do it.
Our “unanswered prayers” are not wasted.
All our prayers aren’t a waste of time, or a mere expense of energy.
As I reflect upon the conversations with my daughter, I am grateful for how much I have grown. Anyone who has walked through difficulties knows the journey is far from easy.
What hard road are you on? Know that you are not here on your own.
About four years ago, Kate Battistelli shared about her battle with temporary infertility in her book, “Growing Great Kids” and how God helped her to find hope and joy where she is. My heart resonated with her story. It was an encouragement.
We are no different from another believer.
We all have challenges, trials and temptations.
We will all come to the testing grounds.
It is WHAT and WHO we choose to believe, that will get us through life's battles. #UnansweredPrayers #ChoosingToBelieve @PNMBlog Click To TweetIt is what and who we choose to believe that will get us through life’s battles.
This has helped me look to life with a different perspective.
Not with the eye of rejection.
Not with the lens abandonment.
Not with a label of forgotten.
But through, the eyes of The Word.
Do I hear an “Amen”?
Our God is faithful
God will do that which He will do. I don’t want to sound preachy, but the enemy will always come at us with questions and doubts.
Respond sharply, “Devil you are too late, for my soul is sold out for Christ”.
Do I sometimes feel tired? Yes, but this burden is lighter because I have Christ on my side. I have Jesus, and He is enough for me and my family. He feels my pain. He knows my heart. He knows my struggles.
I am stronger today because He is my strength and my joy.
I have learnt so many lessons in this tough season, including gratitude for the simple fine things of life. So while, I am waiting for my answered prayers, my soul rejoices because I know my redeemer liveth. My hope is alive and well, looking steadily to the cross.
11 Powerful Scriptural affirmations for when Your Prayers Seem Unanswered
The Lord will fight for you – Exodus 20:12
God has unfailing love for me – Romans 9:5-7,
He will never leave you – Deuteronomy 31:8
He has best plans for you – Jeremiah 29:11
Everything is working for your good – Romans 8:28
God knows what you need – Matthew 6:32
God is not slow – 2 Peter 3:9-11
Not forgotten – Isaiah 49:15-16
Your case is not too hard for God – Jeremiah 32:17
God is not a liar – Numbers 23:19
His Word must surely come to pass – Joshua 21:45
Grab your free printable version HERE!
Prayer for Today:
Lord, thank you that You are faithful to answer our prayers, even if they do not come in quite the way we expect them to. Your promises are Yes and Amen for those who believe. Your Word is our lifeline. Help us during the times when we are tempted to doubt. Strengthen our faith. Uphold our cause. Remind us of Your Truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
To view all of the topics in this series, check out our Stories of Hope page, and discover how others have chosen to live a life of hope, despite life’s greatest challenges!
Ifeoma Samuel, Author and Bible Study Writer for women and children. She has written devotional books available on Amazon. Follow her on Purposeful and Meaningful.com for Bible study resources for children and women. You can also follow her at any of the following places below!
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A wonderful boost of faith encouragement! It is absolutely about our focus and allowing God’s truths to trump the enemy’s tactics to try and discourage and rattle our hearts. It’s definitely an area that God has been refining me in for a few years. Thank you for sharing your story with us!
Amen sis! Gods Word will forever defeat every enemy’s plans.
Thank you for leaving your thoughts here today.
God bless
Thank you, Ifeoma, for sharing truth from your heart and from your own personal experience! This is rich, for the silence of God is NEVER unproductive!
Thank you dear friend for your encouragement 😊
God bless
Thank you, Ifeoma, for sharing so beautifully as it encouraged me this morning. Even when it seems like God is not responding, He is always at work. Oh the wonder of it all! May we faithfully continue to trust Him in all things! Blessings!
Thank God for the encouragement you received.
It’s good to see you dear friend.
God bless
I love how you explained prayer to your daughter. You are so right – God is all about finding hope and joy wherever you are in your life right now!
Thank you Laurie. I appreciate your words.
God bless
Unanswered prayers are so hard to carry.
I love your encouragement that they are not wasted. There is purpose, even when we can’t see it.
Yes, Rebecca. Thank you for leaving your thoughts here 😉
Hugs and blessings to you
Ifeoma, I admire your transparency and your tenacity. Thank you for sharing this private moment with your daughter as an encouraging moment to us all!
You welcome, Joy!
Hugs
Ifeoma, I admire how you responded to your daughter’s inquiry. What holy boldness. What spiritual coaching. What affirmation to yourself of God’s faithfulness. WOW! I’m not sure I would have done so well. Thanks for teaching us as you taught your little one. Blessing to you and your precious family. May God give you the desires of your own heart.
We are all learning, Calvonia ….. sometimes I fail at it… especially when I’m thrown into an unexpected situation. Children give us lots of learning moments, right?
Sorry for late response😊
Hugs sister
What a blessing to point your little one to God, to His ability to answer and His goodness whichever way He answers.
Yes I do agree.Motherhood is a very important ministry that not only shape the hearts of the children but also us as moms
I will be referencing these promises later. Thank you. laurensparks.net
That’s awesome, glad you found them helpful 😊
Life (and children!) can bring us such hard questions. Thanks for sharing how you responded, Ifeoma. I love this truth: “It is what and who we choose to believe that will get us through life’s battles.” Amen.
Amen, sister😊
Thank you Lisa
Thank you, Ifeoma, for sharing this encouraging & inspiring message of faith with us today! Your words and belief in a BIG God are a blessing! <3
Amen, sis.
He is a BIG God.
Blessings to you
It is so easy to focus only on the prayers that He hasn’t answered, or hasn’t answered the way we want. THank you for the reminder to look at what He is doing and remember who He is through it all!
Thank you for sharing your thoughts Tiffany.
God bless
I love the fact that your daughter realized that God has answered many of her prayers, and that you encouraged her to understand that for some of our requests, we must trust God for His perfect will. God will bring to your daughter some awesome close friends perhaps for a lifetime that may not be a substitute for a sibling, but will be closer in spirit than a brother or sister of blood will ever be. Those who God selects for her will be prayer partners and she and they will view many answers to prayer that will amaze you her mother (and her dad) and also increase her faith to believe God cares and He loves her dearly.
Amen! Thank you for your soothing words Aunt Hazel.
We need people don’t we all?
Hugs and Blessings
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