“You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me.” Psalm 56:8-9 (CSB)

Is there a prayer you’ve been waiting on God to answer for so long you’re just about ready to give up?

I understand in a deeply personal way.

We know God can do anything, but we can’t understand why He doesn’t seem to be intervening for us right now. I get it, and I’ve cried many tears because of it.

It’s hard living in that space where our head knows God could do anything, but our heart is heavy because He’s not doing what we’ve hoped for, prayed for and believed for … for a long while.

Friend, I will be the first to bear witness to your pain today. Whatever you are believing God for, I am believing for it with you. He hears you and sees you. He is aware of the tears you’ve shed and the pain you’re experiencing. I know this to be true because of verses like Psalm 56:8-9:

“You yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book? Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call. This I know: God is for me.”

No matter what we’re feeling right now — anger, sadness, confusion — let’s choose to renew our perspective today with this simple, powerful truth: God is for us. Parking our minds on this truth will keep us grounded through the roller coaster of praying for something for a long time.

Here are two truths to consider amid unanswered prayers:

1. Sometimes the reason we feel like God isn’t answering us is that we keep thinking His answers will look exactly like our expectations.

Since the Lord’s thoughts are higher than ours, and His ways are better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9), we have to believe His answers will be in keeping with what’s best for us. That’s why following Him is called “faith.” The sooner we trust Him with the outcomes, the more we will be able to see the faithfulness and goodness He is weaving into our stories today.

2. A lack of answers from God doesn’t mean He’s left us.

When we feel like we’re not getting anywhere with our prayers, it’s tempting to pull away from God. But, friend, He’s here. Keep showing up. Keep crying out to Him. When you find spaces where your heart aches, keep filling them with honest conversations with God.

Friend, God is doing more on your behalf behind the scenes than you could ever imagine. Through the unanswered prayers you’re struggling with, I pray you experience His presence in a real way. Not because everything’s perfect but because He’s good.

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FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 20:6-7, “Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (NIV).

Even through unanswered questions and prayers, how can you trust in the name of the Lord today?

We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

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