God's Timing

This past May I committed to pray for some very specific things.  I even dubbed the month "Pray Through May".  I had a few things over which I desired God's unmistakable voice....His "yes" or His "no".  I've learned (often the hard way) that His will is what I seek because it's for my best.  I've prayed for things at times that weren't His will....and then when He answered the way I wanted, it was a fine mess.  I  try to listen for His still small voice, but secretly I always hope for the neon sign.

As the month of May drudged on, I kept praying.  I was diligent, as His Word says to be.  Still most of the prayers were left unanswered by the end of the month.  As June and now July, have come and nearly gone, I have kept praying, though not as time-consumed as I was when summer began.  I had a conversation with a friend today that ended in a very specific answered prayer - one that I'd been praying over since May.  I had even almost forgotten about it.  I realized today, when the answer came, that I hadn't been anxious or worrisome or burdened by it.  I had left it at the feet of Jesus and just kept praying.  Then, out of the blue, it was answered.  So as I began thinking about this, I realized that many of the other prayers I'd been praying had been answered as well.....all in God's timing - not mine. 

There is not a formula for praying except perhaps this....
"Do not be anxious for anything.  But in everything, with PRAYER and petition and thanksgiving, make your requests known to God, and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Phil 4:6-7 

So, I was reminded that our prayers often act much like the water upon the rock does....gently stroking the heart of Jesus, just like the water strokes the rock.  God often takes time with us, allowing us to become content in just the asking.  He IS the Rock - the only One that never changes.

Unanswered Prayer

One of the hardest things to swallow in my walk with the Lord is unanswered prayer. It's a selfish and immature attitude, to be quite honest....I can admit it. Prayer is powerful and effective, God's Word says, but that doesn't guarantee the answers that we desire. Over the years, I've learned much about prayer, but I still throw my own little tantrum with the Lord when I don't get what I want.


I have practiced the discipline of prayer since I was a little girl. I remember lying in my bed, probably at 12 or 13, praying for the "mate" that God wanted for me before I knew what the word "mate" meant. I can look back now and know that God was preparing me for a lifetime of learning to seek after Him through prayer. What a privilege to know that I can go directly to Jesus with my requests and that He petitions the Father for me. That is more than my little mind can comprehend. It is completely humbling.

So what do we do with UNanswered prayer?

There are things in my life that I’ve prayed over for many years. The salvation of friends, the healing of those dealing with loss, or changes that I long for in my own home….these are just a few of the things that I continually pray for. Sometimes I get frustrated. Sometimes I get very anxious. I’m learning, however, that the Lord often teaches me more effectively through UNanswered prayer than through anything else.

One example is my experience with infertility. After being married for over five years, my husband and I decided we were “ready” for a baby. I had been praying for a while for our anticipated first bundle. In my heart, I was set. We both had jobs and we had a nice home, therefore, it was time. Nearly two years later, we were still without a baby. By this time, I was diligently seeking the Lord. I was not flippant with my prayers. I went through the gamut of emotions during that time, telling the Lord how frustrated and angry I was. I poured over scripture and cried out to Him. It was during that time of unanswered prayer for a child that I grew the most in my relationship with Him. I became passionate about raising godly children if I were ever to have one. Without that time, I wouldn’t understand His sovereignty from the perspective that I now have. In this process, I finally got to a place of resting in His plan and His will. I relinquished my desires for His will– to the point of embracing the idea of never having children. I have no doubt that the unanswered prayer of that time molded and shaped me in ways that nothing else would have.

I still have huge unanswered prayer in my life. I have certain things for which I regularly cry out to the Lord. Those things make me search scripture and search my heart. I have prayed daily for something specific for nearly ten years. Often I’ve questioned why this doesn’t happen. It’s a godly desire that lines up with God’s Word. I rationalize why God might not be answering in the way that I am praying. I’ve changed the wording of my prayers over the years just in case He wants me to voice it in another way. (Maybe He’s not understanding what I’m saying! Ha!) I’ve often been temperamental with my Lord, like a little child who doesn’t get her way. More than anything, though, it makes me question if He’s really listening or if He really cares. That’s where I make my biggest mistake. It’s the place where I must trust instead of question. God desires my faith and trust in Him – not my unbelief. He desires my unwavering belief that He knows best, that He hears, and that He is in control. John 11:4O resonates with me as Jesus asks His disciples, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” (emphasis mine) He wants our faith. He wants our complete rest in Him alone. Often, contrary to what seems “right” in our human minds, God answers with  a “no.” How do we get to a place where we see His glory even in unanswered prayer? Trust. Believe. Rest in His Sovereignty.  I'm still  learning to trust the "no." 

...more water that streams upon my little rock....