Before leaving our series about things that prevent our prayers being answered, let’s make sure we remember one thing: some of our unanswered prayers have been answered – it’s just that we don’t like the answer. Sometimes God says, ‘Wait’. Nobody really likes waiting, so we might keep hoping He’ll have a change of heart. The truth is God won’t change His mind to accommodate us. So we have two options: 1) Keep complaining to Him. 2) Start cooperating with Him. When the prophet Habakkuk needed an answer to his prayers in order to give direction to Israel, God told him to wait. ‘Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it…Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay’ (v.2-3 NIV). God works according to His own plan and schedule, and we can’t rush Him. When we try to get ahead of Him, we’ll end up in trouble. Sometimes God answers our prayers with ‘No’. He knows what we can handle and when we’ll be ready to handle it, and He won’t give it to us before then. Paul said, ‘Three times I pleaded with the Lord…But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”’ (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). Instead of delivering Paul from his problem, God used it to develop him. Without his thorn in the flesh to counterbalance his great talent and potential pride, Paul wouldn’t have been nearly so effective in the service of God. Whether God says, ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Wait’, we can be sure that He has our best interests at heart, and is working to make us more effective servants in His kingdom.

What Now?

Think about your unanswered prayer again. Be honest about whether God has already answered it, and you’re just hoping He’ll change His mind. If that’s the case, ask Him for the courage to accept His decision and to feel at peace with it.