Unanswered Prayers {Thankful Thursdays}

I shared how I was thankful for Answered Prayers several months ago. I mentioned how God may not answer prayers according to how we want or when we want, but He does answer prayers. God doesn’t always answer with a YES, sometimes He answers with a NO.  Today, I want to share a little about how I’m thankful for Unanswered Prayers.

 

Unanswered Prayers or Are They?

We’ve all said a prayer thinking it was something that was God’s will for our lives. Many people pray specifically for an individual to become their mate. Some may pray about a job or a major purchase like a new house. But if we’re praying for God’s will and what we’re praying for is not in His will, He’s not going to answer. Many times people don’t pray for God’s will because they don’t consider what He wants for their lives, but rather only consider what they want and when they want it. Thankfully, the Lord knows best and doesn’t answer those prayers, while seeing past the selfishness. Then there are the times prayers are prayed for something that the outcome could actually be good and the Lord doesn’t answer – those are times we just need to accept the unanswered prayers as being answered.

When I think about the prayers I have prayed over the years, I’m thankful God chose not to answer some of them. If he had, my life would be totally different. In some areas that could possibly be a good thing, but in many more it would be bad.  I wouldn’t have my wonderful husband and son. I wouldn’t be living in the beautiful state of Montana. I could possibly be in a marriage dealing with abuse, alcohol, and a cheating spouse. The Lord knew what was best for me even when I thought I knew what was best.

God cares about everything, even the small things that go on in our life, but He wants the very best for us.

Why settle for less than best when we can have God's best for us?

We need to learn to pray with an unselfish heart, we need to pray with the right motives, and we need to trust God to work everything out according to His will. (James 4:3, Proverbs 3:5-6)

I’m thankful for what many consider unanswered prayers because I’ve come to consider them answered.