When Prayer Goes "Unanswered"

"Hope Survives"
Aspen trees begin to flourish in a forest that
burned a decade ago at Trappers Lake, Colorado.
Photo by Chris Tracy

What do we do when we pray, yet it seems like the answers aren't coming?

We pray for rain during a forest fire… it finally comes, but sometimes too late.

We pray for torrents to stop so floods can subside...they eventually stop, but sometimes too late.

We pray for safety on roads, but sometimes… we don’t feel very safe.

We pray for healing… and we wait and wait for its manifestation.

And what about disasters--natural and man-induced--where death and destruction seem to prevail? Where is the hand of God?

How do we cope with "unanswered" prayer? Do we give up and decide God’s will is not to answer or that his answer is “no”? Or do we blame ourselves for not being deserving enough or holy enough to pray and expect an answer?

All I know is I have seen miracles, experienced healings, and come to know God's nature through His Word, enough to be completely convinced of His goodness. I know His answers and solutions are better than my own.I know there is a spirit realm where God moves in ways I may never see. I know there are angels who guard us and go to battle for us. I know God is always for us and His answers are “yes and amen.” I remember my testimonies. I know that what matters to me, matters to Him. I have learned that trusting God--having that peace that passes understanding--means I must give up my right to understand.

My prayer for you is that you, too, will know His goodness--and that you will always trust Him.
Never stop praying. He hears. He is close.

May you always wear hope like a badge that you never take off.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Find some of my testimonies of miracles in my book, Tapestry, The Divine Design For Your Life, available now at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or Tate Publishing: http://www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-62295-762-0