Isn’t it great when your prayers are answered exactly how you want and you feel all happy and blessed? But what about those times when it feels like all your praying was for nothing? Have you ever felt this way? Maybe it was after praying for months or years for someone who was sick, and they never got better, or they died. Maybe you prayed for someone's marriage to be healed or strengthened, and the couple filed for divorce. Maybe you lost your job, someone else got the promotion, your child got hurt, a close friend betrays you, or. . . . . (fill in your own disappointment). You may even ask yourself, "What was the point of praying for this intention? Apparently, it didn't help."
It definitely can be discouraging when it appears our prayers aren't being answered or we don't experience the outcome we had wanted. Prayer isn't a magic wand, it isn't a "To Do List" for God, and it doesn't always shield us from pain. Prayer allows us to keep in touch with God and it allows God to touch our lives. Prayer is very powerful, but often God answers in ways we may never realize. God certainly wants us to bring our needs and concerns to Him, but how He dispenses His graces and comes to our need, is out of our control. Many of us like to be in control, but often we find ourselves in circumstances that we cannot control, and we want God to fix things and follow our instructions. Prayer, however, is something much more than God granting our requests.
Prayer is an open line of communication which calls us to trust in God. We pour our heart out to God, and then we trust and allow God to act in our lives. God does answer our prayers, we just need to be more in tune with His ways. It is possible that the person we had been praying for is actually receiving graces we can't see. Outwardly the illness may still be present, but inwardly the person is feeling God's peace and love. Perhaps God is healing their soul instead of their body for something more wonderful in their future. Sometimes losing a job or a friend may be God's way of steering you in a new direction. And though we may want God to control the actions of others, He gives each one of us the incredible gift of free will. Unfortunately, many do not use this gift justly as God had intended.
I would like to suggest that the next time you may feel your prayers aren't working you remember what Jesus said to Thomas.
"...blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Believe that God hears your prayers and trust in His goodness. I hope one day God shares with us how He answered all our prayers, and we will echo Thomas' words, "My Lord, my God" how amazing is Your love!
-Susan
