Unanswered Prayers

August 14, 2009

I was just reflecting on God's goodness today when a song popped into my head...a country song, of all things. It's funny how my brain works sometimes.

I was thinking about a guy I liked in Junior High School. Just the mere sight of him would set my heart aflutter. If he waved at me or talked to me, well...that day was a red-letter day in my diary. Whoo!

I remember praying every night for God to let this guy see how great I was. Sure, he was a High Schooler, and I was a mere 7th grader, but I knew that God, in all His great wisdom, would find a way to make this work.

Somewhere along the way, I lost interest. Maybe I fell for someone else, or I realized what a lost cause I was chasing. Regardless, in the words of Garth Brooks, that was an "unanswered prayer." At the time, I didn't feel like God had let me down, but I knew He must have something else in mind.

Fast-forward to college. I was in a doomed friendship with a guy that everyone (but me) realized was bad for me. I prayed every day that this friend would look at me with new eyes, that he would see how great I was, and see how God had brought us together. When it didn't happen and the friendship ended in the worst way possible, I was crushed. I could not understand for the life of me why God would let this happen. I mean, I had prayed so fervently for this relationship. I lost sight of what God had planned versus what I thought should happen.

I remember the first time I heard Garth Brooks' song after this devastation had occurred. It spoke to me that day. In case you aren't familiar with the song, here are some of the lyrics:

"She was the one that I'd wanted for all times
And each night I'd spend prayin' that God would make her mine
And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then
I'd never ask for anything again

CHORUS:
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers"

Thinking back now on all the requests that I made to God for that relationship, as well as other relationships, jobs, and so many (now) trivial issues, I am so thankful that God chose not to grant me what I'd begged for. It wasn't that He was letting my prayers go unanswered, He just knew that His plan was far superior to mine. Jeremiah 29:11 says "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."

God never lets a prayer go unanswered. Sometimes His answer is "yes," sometimes it's "no," and often it's "not now."

I am thankful that God told me "no" back then. God knew what He was doing all along.

I am so grateful.