God's unexpected answers to prayers
God answers prayers, but not always in the way that we would like or expect. We may not even recognize Him working, but I can assure you that He is. We may think our prayers have gone unanswered, that they have just evaporated into thin air, as they were on their way up to Heaven. However, we must remember that God hears our prayers, and that He always does what is best for us. He is Holy, and the decisions that He makes in our lives, are completely in our best interest. Let me begin with this powerful Scripture. Isaiah 55:8-9 says:
8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
You see, God holds all wisdom and power; He knows all things. That means He knows us inside and out, and better than anyone else. God doesn't think the way we think. He isn't driven by emotions, pressure, or circumstances. He sees the future and He is in complete control so we must trust him and continue praying. Let me share some examples of how God answered my prayers, in ways I was not anticipating. When I prayed for God to help my marriage, I thought He would immediately begin working on my husband. My husband was abusing substances and doing a fair amount of other things that was not healthy for him and our family. But God didn't do that. He began working in my heart. I never thought that He would begin to change me first. When I prayed for patience, I thought that God would give me a lump of His divine patience. Imagine all the people and things God has to deal with. If anyone is patient, it is God. So I thought I would just automatically be long-tempered, even if God just gave me a grain or drop of His patience. I was not thinking that God put more people, events, and things in my life that tested my patience. This was definitely a struggle. God could have made me into a more patient person in just a blink of an eye, but God wanted to build my patience, and He is still building it.
Hebrews 12:11 says For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. God desires to change us, and build up character and righteousness within us. What would we learn if God just gave us everything we asked for? When I asked God for more joy, He showed me the things in my life that stole my joy and caused me grief, such as credit card debt, a jam packed schedule filled with unnecessary busyness, and my attitude. He showed me that I was ungrateful, insecure, and a worrier. How could I experience joy when I always felt the exact opposite of joy? When I asked God for more of him and less of me, He prompted me to give away (what I thought was at that time) my most prized possessions: makeup, shoes, clothes, purses, and other beauty items (that were heavily sought after and limited edition). I loved those items, and it hurt to give them away. But I trusted God, and I knew He wouldn't ask me to do anything that wasn't good for me. Later I felt such a great release.
God has worked in every area of my life, and there are still many things to be worked on. So don't be overwhelmed if you feel like you have a long list also. God will put His finger on the thing that is most important. He will reveal to you what it is that He would like you to work on. For now, seek of ways in your life that God has answered a prayer, even if it isn't exactly the way that you expected. Don't be surprised if you find many ways that God has answered your prayers. My intention is not to make you afraid to pray, or to overanalyze what you pray for. We should pray about everything, but also remember that God's thoughts and ways are higher than ours, just as the Heavens are higher than the earth (Isaiah 55:8-9). Let us be like the Psalmist that said in Psalm 5:3: In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.
Let us Pray.
Father God,
Help us to be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer (Romans 12:12), just as Your word says. We thank you Lord, that You are a God who protects us, loves us unconditionally, and answers our prayers. I thank you for the readers, and pray now that you Lord, would reveal to them how you have answered their prayers, even if it wasn't the way they thought you would. We know and acknowledge that You are powerful, Sovereign, and Holy, and we know that Your ways and thoughts are much, much higher than ours. Help us to trust you and to continue in fervent prayer. As we pray, open our hearts to trust you and your methods. Thank you for working in us, changing us, as well as our circumstances. Lord God, you are faithful and you know all things. We wait hopefully and expectantly for You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Prayerfully,
Pam
