God, That Wasn’t the Answer I had In Mind
There’s nothing like praying and then having the outcome of that prayer turn out completely different from what we had in mind. Prayer requests can range from big to small; therefore, the answers to those prayers will vary as well. How do we handle the answers we have received and still believe in the power of prayer? Here are my suggestions.
1. What was the assumption? Our prayers may not be based on trust but rather an underlying need to still have control or a final say instead of allowing God to handle our situations. Isaiah 55:8-9 reminds us that God’s ways and thoughts are not like ours; in fact, they are higher. Imagine a specific instance when you prayed for something and notice how much better God’s move was on your prayer than what you came up with on your own.
2. Changing Perspective
Instead of focusing on how the answer doesn’t fit your expectation, change your perspective. It can broaden your view and lessen your chances of forming a negative attitude towards God. Allow your view to shift towards Him and concentrate on His characteristics of goodness, grace and mercy, which will allow your heart to be filled with gratitude.
3. Living the Answer
Living the answer means trusting God to provide the steps needed to walk through the answer from the easy to the most difficult. God will never leave or forsake us. We have a loving God who will calm our fears, comfort our hearts, and provide direction as we go about living the answer. We just need to start walking.
Prayer is a vital part of our relationship with the Lord and trust is gained and strengthened as we rely on Him to guide us through life. We don’t always get what we want, how we want it. God’s purpose in our lives is to prosper us according to His will and not our own. God’s sovereignty must remain our pivotal focus because with Him in sight, every answer we receive can be viewed in love.
