“To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, or at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need. ” Ellen White, Gospel Workers, p. 258
Did you ever say a prayer that God did not answer?
The answer to this question is a resounding, “NO!” God always answers our prayers. 100 percent of our prayers get an answer–sometimes before we are finished praying. The problem is God often says “No”
God does not often give us what we want in the exact way that we request. He is not a divine Santa Claus. However, He takes our requests and turns the answer into a blessing that we need. He has promised to hear our prayer, and He responds to each of them in a way that He knows is best.
Furthermore, many of God’s answers may look like work. While we are praying for an easy life, God is giving us the strength to endure a life of hardship. While we are praying for treasure to fall out of the sky, God may hand us a treasure map and shovel. We must do the work if we want the reward. Many of us would prefer to skip the burden and go straight to the blessing. But it is the burden that prepares us to appreciate the blessing.
Don’t get discouraged when God doesn’t give you what you want. He has promised to give you what you need. His timing is not always our timing, but He is always on time with what He knows is best for our life.
Do you trust Him?
Stephen Beagles (2023)