Even as a fairly new Christian (one year), I know intellectually that God doesn’t answer all of our prayers. And yet, there is a small part of me deep inside that wishes an exception be made for the newbies. That God would want to encourage us by answering all of our prayers, at least for the first year. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Surprise! Not really. You’d think that if you prayed sincerely, did all of the right things, helped others and thought about God more than anything else, maybe He would help you out. It doesn’t always work that way.
As I find myself once more in a place of unanswered prayer, I vacillate between being upset with God and promising to stand in faith that maybe some day this prayer will be answered. His timeline, not mine. If you haven’t already figured it out, God’s timeline is often very different from our own.
In my current situation, there is something else going on. Our Pastor spoke about it last week. Sometimes you feel like God is not only not listening to you but that he’s nowhere to be found. You are suffering, you are praying, but to no avail. Relief doesn’t come. Why?
It’s called “living in the consequences”. It may be consequences due to your choices or (and this is a big “or”) someone else’s choices. Think of the families of the Orlando shooting. They did nothing to deserve the place of misery they now find themselves in and yet there they are. And God did nothing to stop it.
Yesterday I wanted to stop praying altogether. I spoke with a Christian friend about it. She told me I mustn’t give up. That’s exactly what “the enemy” wants us to do. Anything to get us away from God. I started thinking about all of the really good people I know who are currently “living in the consequences”. Why should I be immune?
It’s not a new concept but I had never heard it described that way before. I like it. It’s simple and comprehensible.
So here I am, living in the consequences like so many others. Keep praying. Keep the faith. God knows what is in your heart. He may not respond in your time frame, but He will respond. God’s love for you is eternal and unfailing. Never give up on Him. God bless.