When Prayers Aren't Answered

A 42-year-old sits alone in her home.  She has lived with severe arthritis for over 8 years.  Her doctor just diagnosed her with chronic fatigue syndrome.  Her energy-level is always low; her personal “gas tank” needs to be filled, but doesn’t hold nearly what it used to.  She doesn’t know how she can continue working and caring for her 3 children.  She, her pastor, and friends have prayed for God to heal her, for years, but their prayers have not been answered. 

When she asks her pastor Why, he doesn’t have an answer.  She avoids those who told her she doesn’t have enough faith; what do they think – that she enjoys this everyday pain, fatigue, and big medical bills?  Some friends were understanding at first but no longer invite her to their social outings because she couldn’t go out, one too many times.  Others don’t know what to say anymore.  Thus, she feels alone in her struggles.

Understanding why God doesn’t answer our prayers, requires us to look past our pain and hardships; it also requires patience and faith that can preserve through testing.  If you don’t have the necessary faith or endurance, suffering teaches us, even though no one likes the school of hard knocks.

In Isaiah 30, the Israelites turned to an alliance with the Egyptians instead of turning to the Lord.  In v. 15, the Sovereign Lord said to them,

In repentance and rest is your salvation,


in quietness and trust is your strength,


but you would have none of it.

How many of us during our healthy time, felt like we had to spend our time at work or with loved ones, and were too busy to be quiet before God.  We rushed and fretted and hurried around.  Then, in some way, God did something to get our attention, and we had to suffer through some hard times while being humbled before God. 

What if God has not healed you?  Are you living in daily pain and feel like people don’t understand your struggle?  Maintaining a positive hope for the future is one of the biggest challenges for those with chronic pain or illness.   Perhaps one of these could boost your spirits if you (or someone u know) lives with a chronic illness.

For resources for those with chronic illness or chronic pain, see:

 http://www.restministries.org 

http://www.restministriessunroom.com/

http://www.joniandfriends.org

http://www.theacpa.org/default.aspx -the American Chronic Pain Assoc..

http://www.mayoclinic.com  -look up any chronic pain or illness by name

http://www.theamensolution.com/home has resources for those who want to improve their cognitive      

                   or brain health.  This was founded by Dr. Daniel Amen.

http://www.myspace.com/ & http://www.facebook.com/ have numerous groups for those w/ chronic pain or illness; just search for your illness.

A New Scene with the Lord's Footprints

Imagine you and the Lord are walking on the beach together For much of the way, the Lord’s footprints go along steadily, consistently, rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles, departures, and returns. For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but gradually your footprints come more in line with the Lord’s, soon paralleling His consistently… You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting thing happens: Your footprints that once etched the sand next to Jesus’ are now walking precisely in His steps. Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones, you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for along time, but suddenly the second set of footprints is back. This time it seems even worse! Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. Gashes in the sand. A variable mess of prints. You are amazed and shocked.

Your dream ends. You now pray: “Lord, I understand the first scene, with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian; I was just learning. But you walked on through the storm and helped me learn to walk in with you.”

“That’s correct.”

“And when the smaller footprints were inside of Yours, I was actually learning to walk in you in Your steps, following you very closely.”

“Very good.” You have understood everything so far.”

 “So Lord, did I lose your trail or get distracted?  The footprints separate, and this time it was worse than that at first.”

There was a pause as the Lord answers, with a smile in His voice. “You didn’t know? It was then that we danced!"   (adapted from Linda Newton’s blog)

In the midst of difficulty, let’s choose Jesus’ strength and salvation, not pain and confusion.  Jesus will lead us in this dance called life, if we choose to follow Him.  If you desire the Lord to give you strength and salvation, pray this verse for yourself:  

" The Lord is my Strength and my Song, and He has become my Salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him, my father's God, and I will exalt Him."  Exodus 15:2