It’s funny how life goes through cycles. Sometimes everything in my life seems to go wrong. Other times it appears as if everything is going right! After living in the “everything is going wrong” period of three months this summer while suffering with Mono, finally I’m in the “right” period of life.
I’m finally feeling better. My son had an incredible baseball season. He even intercepted a pass in last night’s Jr. High football game—which we won! My daughter is flourishing in her endeavors as well. She made Theater at school and is on the school’s newspaper team. Last but not least, my eldest son has decided to return to college! Yippee!!!!
It seems like God is finally on my side! He is listening, cares about my concerns, and is making things happen. I couldn’t be happier.
As I praised God this morning for His abundant blessings, I found myself wondering this… “When God doesn’t answer my prayers or has me on ‘wait,’ why does it feel like God isn’t on my side?”
Feelings can trip us up. Have you noticed? My emotions can be so powerful that they lie to me. Has this happen to you before? It happens to me often. I’m not saying that our feelings aren’t real. I’m saying that they can’t always be trusted. The truth is just because God doesn’t answer right away doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.
Country singer Garth Brooks, who is my friend’s neighbor, (how cool is that?) had a hit song in which he recalls his impassioned prayers for God to melt the heart of a high school sweetheart—later it became apparent to him that she was a terrible choice for a mate. Sometimes God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.
Why can’t we see that?
Well, if you’re like me it’s because we want what we want. We think we know what we need and what’s best for our lives or circumstances. But do we—really?
Rick Warren writes:
“What would happen if God answered every prayer? By answering every possible prayer, God would in effect abdicate, turning the world over to us to run. (That’s scary!) History shows how we have handled the limited power granted us: we have fought wars, committed genocide, fouled the air and water, destroyed forests, established unjust political systems, concentrated pockets of superfluous wealth and grinding poverty. What if God gave us automatic access to supernatural power? What further havoc might we wreak? Most of us learn, over time, that some prayers prove better off unanswered.”
The fact is like a loving father God cares about us so much that’s he’s willing to withhold what isn’t best for us. Whether His answer is “yea” or “nay” God is always on our side. So let’s rejoice in His provision no matter what our emotions may say.
Teske says
Thanks for this encouragement Micca. I've struggled with this quite recently, wondering why God blessed me with a child through pregnancy, but then took the child so abruptly when I was six weeks along (while I was at She Speaks no less!). I've already experienced the loss of a newborn baby, my daughter Chloe, 3 years ago, and my first thought was…hadn't I been through enough, God?!. I've learned that I must be in surrender to God's will for me and for my children. It doesn't mean I'll ever get the answers to my "why" questions, but it does mean that He is on my side, will use these trials for His glory, and will bring peace. In just the few short weeks since the miscarriage, I've already had 3 opportunities to minister to women who have recently experienced early miscarriage, and for that I praise God.
Teske
http://mommieswithhope.blogspot.com
Joyful says
"Sometimes God’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers."
The blessing of God's 'no'. I wrote a post about that recently myself. (http://ponderinginhispresence.blogspot.com/2009/04/blessing-of-gods-no.html)
His 'no' often is for the purpose of a greater yes.
Trusting Him,
Joy