Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t answer your prayer?
This is a valid question we have all ask ourselves when we go through times when we want an answer and don’t see it yet.
I once listened to someone who said that one of the nicest things about the Bible is that it’s like a gold mine, where you’re digging and digging, finding precious gold pebbles.
And today I want to share with you one of those pebbles through a Bible story.
This story reminds us that even if it takes time, God never forgets a prayer:
Once when they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh, Hannah stood up.
Now Eli the priest was sitting on his chair by the doorpost of the Lord’s house.
In her deep anguish Hannah prayed to the Lord, weeping bitterly.
And she made a vow, saying, “Lord Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.”
As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth.
Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving but her voice was not heard.
Eli thought she was drunk and said to her, “How long are you going to stay drunk? Put away your wine.”
“Not so, my lord,” Hannah replied, “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord.
Do not take your servant for a wicked woman; I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.”
Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.”
She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.”
Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the Lord and then went back to their home at Ramah.
Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the Lord remembered her.
So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.
She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
| 1 Samuel 1:9-20
In this story, we realized that Hannah was a woman who could not conceive children and prayed to God asking for one.
Even though a lot of time had passed, she didn’t doubt God’s promises.
That is why persisting always sought him in prayer, wished and believed that sooner or later God would answer her situation.
It may be that in your case, as in Hannah’s, God acts in a seemingly mysterious way, yet his answers will always be wonderful.
Hannah had been waiting for that son for a long time, she was quite sad, discouraged.
As much as you and I can get to feel sometimes.
But God answered her, there is something very important about this story, and that is that God never forgets you.
In the moments when you wonder why God doesn’t answer your prayer, you can trust that He listens and takes a deep interest in every sincere prayer.
If we continue reading, we see that Hannah proposed a deal to God.
The deal was that if God allowed her to conceive a child, she would dedicate him every day of his life to God.
In her sadness and discouragement, hope persisted, even though she could not see that God would very soon give her what she longed for.
Perhaps God is at work to soon give you a positive response to your request.
Perhaps the answer you want right now is not the one God has prepared for you.
If so, it may hurt because maybe it wasn’t what you expected, but later you’ll see that it was the best.
God knows you better than anyone, and his plans are perfect.
The Lord does not forget any prayers, in his time and in his love he answers them all in the way that suits him best.
Maybe God already answered your prayer in a way you didn’t expect and didn’t realize.
Perhaps God is telling you to wait.
Telling you that this is not the best time to receive what you long for.
Those are all answers, those are all ways God answers us.
In our story, we see That Hannah’s faith grew, and God answered her prayer.
It happened that at the same time God fulfilled her longed-for desire, she was able to give birth to a son.
Today God tells us, do not faint, I will not forsake you, do not stop trusting.
He is the God who does not forget what you ask for, the God who answers every sincere prayer.
We can leave our life in his hands, our family, work, courtship, study, and he will always respond.
The Lord has not promised us immediate answers.
However, He encourages us to ask, to never get tired of persisting, of asking and of trusting.
When God answers our prayer, we will realize that God’s plans, whether they are equal to ours, are always the best.
He knows better than anyone what suits us best.
Ask him with a sincere and humble heart and wait patiently on him.
God wants you to look for him, to tell him still things like: “help my son get a job”, “heal my mother”, “I ask for my courtship or marriage”, “help me I feel away from you”.
Ask him, wait for his answer, and whatever it is, it will be the best.
Maybe you’ve been looking for an answer for a long time, and in the midst of a thousand questions you doubt, but his love will answer.
God bless you!
I don’t know what your situation is, you can leave your prayer requests down here, and we’ll be praying for each of them. Leave your comment, a hug!
