A Reflection On Unanswered Prayer

When I want to respond with faith

Often God’s initial answer to us after a prayer is not His final word; it is a test. It is given to see how we will respond. Is it a response of faith and trust? Or a response of complaint? The nature of the reply may determine the result we see. We will either honor Him with a confident declaration of His merciful nature or we will dishonor Him with resentment and resignation. In either case, He may or may not give us the answer we hoped for. But when we respond in faith, He will answer, one way or another. It is inconceivable that He would ignore those who fall at His feet and pray to Him in faith and on His terms.

How do you respond when Jesus doesn’t answer the way you expect? Do you turn away in bitterness? That’s certainly not what He wants. His desire is to see us profess our knowledge of who He is, even when the superficial evidence we see seems to contradict His true nature. He welcomes persistence, He expects faith, and He sympathizes with those who know their desperate need.

Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Luke 11:9