Have you ever prayed for something really hard and it didn’t come to pass in the way you thought it should? I’m sure we’ve all been there, many times in our lives, praying feverishly for a certain prayer request to be answered but our Almighty God had something else in mind. I saw this sign once at a Christian Education conference, it said: God’s Answers to Your Prayers: 1. Yes 2. Not Yet 3. I have something better in mind.

That sign has always stuck with me because God does answer our prayers, just not always the way we had hoped, imagined, or believed He would. I love the verses in Matthew 7:7-8 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” The key is our persistence in pursuing God. We must continue to seek Him in all areas of our life, even if we “think” we know the way we should go. When life is going good, it’s easy to get caught up in the “I’ve got this, Lord” mentality. Things are going well, thanks for your help, but I’ve got this covered. When in reality – He’s the one who has ALL of this. Our Heavenly Creator knows exactly what we need and when we need it, but it’s up to us to continue to pursue Him every step of the way. Even if the answers don’t seem to be coming or they don’t seem to be in the direction you want to go – keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. God will answer.

Prayer

Loving God, we sometimes wonder if you really hear us. Help us to know that in all areas of our life, You are our constant. Help us to know that You do answer prayers, but we need to be on the lookout for how You are answering them already – just the way You had planned. We thank you for your unconditional love. In Jesus’ most precious name we pray. Amen.