Waiting on unanswered prayer is hard to do. It is especially hard when the waiting period has gone on for months and possibly even years. Someone may tell us to wait patiently, but that is easier said than done. We may begin to wonder if and when our prayers will ever be answered. We are in the waiting room of unanswered prayer.
We Can Wait Together
I’m writing this blog post from personal experience, one that I am in right now! I am actually in the waiting room, waiting for God to answer my prayer. So if you are waiting, you are not alone. I am waiting with you.
I have prayed for something very near and dear to my heart for so long…years even, but God has not answered my prayer. What I have prayed for is not unbiblical. In fact, the thing I have prayed for aligns with the Word of God. From what I have found through my Bible studies, it is something that God would want for His children. It would be the best thing for everyone involved, as far as I can see with my human mind.
During my time in the waiting room, I have been discouraged, wondering why my prayers were seemingly not making their way to God’s ears. I have questioned if I was doing it all wrong and if I have missed something along the way. Was God telling me no, or was He telling me to wait? If He was saying no, then why?
God, why haven’t You answered my prayers? Why can’t I see you working?
I have asked God these questions so many times, but I still do not know the answers.
“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.” Psalm 130:5 NIV
Here’s What I Do Know
One day the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, “Penny, don’t you believe what God’s Word says? If so, then you have to trust Him and understand that He knows what He is doing.”
So it all goes back to how much we really believe the Bible. If we truly believe every word to be the true, divinely inspired word of God, then we do not need to worry about our unanswered prayers. We need to trust God. We are His children. He is for us and not against us. He has our best interests at heart, and He WILL cause all things to work together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)
I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13
God is Good.
He has blessed me beyond measure. God has been so good to me and continues to be every single day. It would take me the rest of my life to write a list of all the blessings God has poured out on me. Even though this thing I am praying for is huge to me and plays a major role in my life, I still have so many blessings to be thankful for. After all, if God gave me what I deserve, then I would have nothing.
The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. Psalm 145:9 NLT
What is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father. James 1:17 NLT
God is Omniscient.
He knows far more than my human mind can ever comprehend. Therefore, He knows everything that could and would happen if He answered my prayer too soon. This means that He may be delaying answering my prayer in order to avoid an unwanted outcome for me.
How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension. Psalm 147:5 NLT
Have you ever wondered why you get behind a slow moving vehicle when you’re already running late? Maybe God worked it out that way to prevent you from having a serious wreck down the road. Everything that happens in our life is not a coincidence. God places people, things, and situations in our lives to help us, to protect us, and to teach us. Therefore, it is perfectly plausible to say that He is delaying answering my prayer for my own benefit.
God Loves Me.
If He didn’t love me, then why would He send His Son to die on the cross for me? So if He loves me that much, then I know that He would not withhold a good thing from me without a good reason.
“No power in the sky or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:39 NLT
God Hears My Prayers.
He has answered so many of them before. I think we often forget about the prayers that He has answered. How many times have we asked God to keep us or our loved ones safe, heal us, or help us through something? Did we remember to thank Him for answering those prayers? We also need to thank Him in advance for answering this prayer we have been waiting for. Let’s show our faith and thank God before the provision.
“And we are confident that He hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases. Him.” 1 John 5:14
God Has a Plan for Me.
Therefore, He is working out that plan for my life in the way that He wants it go. My life is not about me. It is about HIM!
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
A Closer Walk With Thee
I do not know the reason why God has made me wait so long for my prayers to be answered, and I may not ever know. However, I do know that this unanswered prayer has brought me closer to Him. That is for certain. In my search for answers, I have sought God more through prayer and in His Word.
Would I have done that if He had readily answered my prayers? I would like to think so, but possibly not. Anything that brings me closer to my Lord Jesus Christ is worth it. This earthly life is but such a short time.
I will not lose hope, and I will not give up on my faith in God. I will trust Him, for He knows infinitely more than I do, and He has always taken care of me. I know God is good. He loves me, and He has my best interests at heart. Therefore, I will continue praying and waiting for God to answer my prayer, in whatever way and whatever time He sees fit.
Whenever that happens, I will let you know. In the mean time, let’s just hang out in the waiting room together.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV
Feel free to leave a comment down below.
I’m currently in the waiting room too. Been there for 15 years for this particular prayer. I know that God is good and I will continue to wait for His timing.
I understand how hard it is to wait for a long time. But you are right…God IS good and His timing is perfect. I will join you in praying for your long awaited request.
Very very good. I’m Blessed every time I read one. I enjoy all of them
Thank you so much! I am glad you enjoy them. God gives me the words, and I just write them down.
Such a timely post. Such a blessing to have discovered this on my time line. I am to “yet, holding on”. It is an amazing bit of encouragement to know and wait with like believers. The waiting room suddenly doesn’t feel so lonely or so small.
You might like this ❤https://youtu.be/K3TYG7Q_fj4
Thank you for your comment Nekeisha. You’re right. It is encouraging to know that there are other children of God who are in a period of waiting. That’s why I felt compelled by the Holy Spirit to write this blog post, to let others know they are not alone. And also to encourage them that God is still good even in the midst of the waiting.