Have you ever wondered why God hasn’t answered your prayers? Dear one, unanswered prayers do not mean that God doesn’t care. Just the opposite is true. God loves us and wants the best for us. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:21-23, ESV).
Have you ever looked at your life and thought, “When am I going to get it together?” I know I have. But the older I get, the more I realize—it’s not really about my plan. It’s about God’s plan.
What does it truly mean to have your life “together”? Is it finding love, building a family, achieving success, being a good parent, or faithfully following God’s calling?
The world may say there’s a timeline for everything. Yet studies suggest most people don’t feel like they have it all figured out until around age 60. The truth is, there’s no magical age or switch that makes everything fall into place. Some people seem to follow a straight path from early on, while others don’t discover their direction until they’ve lived through a few twists and turns. And yet, through it all, God’s plan continues to unfold — patiently, purposefully, and perfectly.
Growing up, I was never a fan of classical music. This might be because my stepfather played Handel’s Messiah every Christmas at an ear-splitting level. To clarify, I didn’t mind the words or message, just the type of singing, and the fact that he blasted it so loud. To this day, I can still hear the words “For unto us a Child is born…Wonderful, Counselor” echoing in my brain at full volume.
For many, the Christmas season is a time of joy, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. It reminds us that God sent His son in human form to save us from sin and reconcile us to Him. But have you ever pondered that first Christmas season? Perhaps it wasn’t exactly filled with joy. I’ve often wondered what it was like for Mary.
We were never meant to figure things out on our own. Trust me, I’ve tried. I am a classic overthinker. I make informed decisions by weighing the pros and cons and determining the best course of action. Unfortunately, things don’t always work out the way I thought they would. So I end up going to God and pleading for help.
I always believed that to be a good Christian, I must follow the instructions of the Bible rather than sin. I must set a good example to please God and bring others to Christ. However, I believed that until I read the story of Rahab. Then, I realized we are redeemed like Rahab.
Please don’t misunderstand. God wants us to be obedient and let our light shine so others will see His glory. That’s why He gave us the Bible—his love letter. We will have less trouble in our lives when we follow the Bible’s instructions. It’s similar to a parent making rules for their children; rules intended to help keep them safe and make good choices. For example, parents instruct their children not to touch a hot stove because they desire to protect them from harm.
But just as a parent lovingly forgives their children for making mistakes or disobedience, God gives us grace and mercy.
Our expectations often lead to disappointment. We expect our life to follow a particular trajectory, but it doesn’t. We expect life to be easy. But it is anything but. So we pray and expect God to answer our prayers the way we think He should, to give us our dreams, and to fulfill our expectations. But He has another plan.
Maybe it’s just me, but, sometimes, I have found myself thinking: “I have been true to my faith. But God, why? How? When will my prayers come to pass? After all, telling myself to have faith and doing this can be two different things. I tend to want God to answer my prayers right away. But I have learned God’s timing, plan, and resolution can often differ significantly from mine. However, the story of Ruth offers me hope. I’ve also learned I don’t always have to know all the answers. God rescues and restores those who put their faith and hope in Him.
Have you ever said, “Wow, what a coincidence?”
Yesterday, I read a Christian book and learned about walking with God. He takes us in the direction He knows is best. As we walk, we deepen our relationship with God by sharing our hearts, submitting our fears, and even the areas where we lack faith and trust in Him. (paraphrased from Relaxed, by Megan Fate Marshman)
As I read this, I thought,” Hmm, submit to God and build your relationship. Seems like everywhere I turn lately, I see the words submit, surrender, let go, and give it to God. This can’t be a coincidence.”
I sustained a broken vertebra in a car accident and had been in a brace for more than 14 weeks when the doctors had told me it would only be 9 – 12 weeks at most. I wasn’t healing as fast as I was supposed to. So, friends at bible study kindly laid hands on me and prayed for my healing. But I wondered, will God really heal me? What If Healing Me Is Not Part of His Plan?
