When Answers Don’t Come

All of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!”

Tears filled Gayla’s eyes as the leader of her prayer group spoke of her daughter’s years of rebellion. Ten years passed before God drew her back and restored her to their family. The leader’s final comment struck hard. She said, “I have discovered that God doesn’t always tell us yes or no when we pray. But sometimes He says, ‘I have a better plan.’”

Gayla pondered those words as she considered her own circumstances. Her family had had its share of problems over the last year, causing division and angst in their household. She’d asked God to restore her family, but it hadn’t happened. God seemed unresponsive to their circumstances, and she’d begun to lose hope.

God, Gayla prayed, forgive me for not trusting Your goodness and believing that You still hear me, love me, and have a better plan. Thank You for all the ways You sustain and carry me. Help me to be faithful as I wait for You to accomplish Your work in our lives.

Sometimes our lives seem to be littered with “unanswered prayers”—the healing that didn’t happen, unreconciled relationships, the home that was foreclosed, the great job that eludes us. Even in those times of waiting or closed doors, we can know God has a better plan because we know His character. He is good, wise, loving, merciful, and compassionate. He is the One who has “a future and a hope” for us (Jeremiah 29:11). His plan is to develop in us the character of Christ and draw us near to Him, however He chooses to do that.

There are times in our lives when we must determine to bow before Him in surrender and run to Romans 11:33, which declares, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”

Rest Assured

Father, help my unbelief. Give me the faith to trust You even when the answers don’t seem to make sense.

Rest in Him: Psalm 86