When Reality Does Not Align with Our Prayers

In prayer, we usually ask for good things for ourselves and the people we love. For example, we pray for our work to go smoothly, for safety in travel, for a spouse to recover quickly from illness, for a child to grow up healthy, and so on. Praise the Lord if those prayers are answered and everything goes as hoped.

But what if what we pray for does not become reality, and what happens instead is something bad?

Why Doesn’t God Always Answer Our Prayers?

When my father fell ill and had to undergo surgery, I continually prayed that he would recover quickly. But who would have thought that his condition would only get worse. Every medical effort brought no positive result, and in the end my father passed away.

I was disappointed and felt that God did not love my father. I could not accept reality. Yet in the end I realized that not every prayer will necessarily be answered. For God knows what is best for my father.

When reality does not align with the prayers we lift up, what should we do? Why must we trust that God’s plan is always best, while our plans, no matter how good they may seem, are not necessarily what God will bring to pass?

Learning from the Word, there are three things we can reflect on and do in response:

1. “My Plans Are Not Your Plans.”

For My plans are not your plans, and your ways are not My ways, declares the LORD. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My plans than your plans. – Isaiah 55:8-9

God, as our Creator, knows what is better and best for our lives. So learn to accept His way and His plan, whether it seems good or bad in our eyes.

We have the right to pray and ask for anything, the right to make various positive efforts, and the right to plan things that we believe are good to pursue. Yet the outcome still depends on God. He alone is fully sovereign over our lives. We may bring our desires and hopes to Him in prayer, but that does not mean God must grant them. God has the right to do anything in our lives. Let us not dictate that He must design this or do that according to our will.

Perhaps right now we feel that God is giving us something bad, but one day we will understand what God intended behind all this. Accept it and keep trusting: God always gives what is best.

2. “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord!”

Whenever the days of feasting had run their course, Job would call them together and consecrate them; early the next morning Job would rise and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for he thought, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This is what Job always did. – Job 1:5

Job loved his ten children, but he realized that they were accustomed to feasting wildly. Therefore, after each feast, Job always offered burnt offerings so that God would forgive his children if they had sinned against Him.

On the other hand, Job never knew that God had accepted the devil’s challenge to test his faith (Job 1). All of Job’s possessions, including his ten children, were taken by the devil. Job, who once had everything, now lost everything.

Yet Job’s response to his tragedy was extraordinary. He continued to praise God. Job realized that everything he had belonged to God, so God had the right to take it away at any time.

Always remember and realize that whatever we have right now, including the people we love, such as parents, a spouse, or children, belongs to God. He has the right to take them at any time, according to His will. We were born bringing nothing; when we die, we will take nothing with us. Therefore, keep praising God and learn to let go when He takes something we have.

"Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The LORD gives, the LORD takes away, blessed be the name of the LORD!" In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing. – Job 1:21-22

3. “Not My Will, but Yours Be Done.”

"My Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done." Then an angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. – Luke 22:42-43

The greatest example of surrendering to God’s plan is Jesus Christ.

A few hours before He was arrested, Jesus was fully aware that He had to suffer in order to bear the sins of humanity. One of His own disciples betrayed Him; He would be arrested and treated like a criminal, with people searching for “evidence of His crimes” so that He could be sentenced. He would be slandered, spat on, humiliated, tortured, and hung on a wooden cross for hours so that He would not die immediately.

Jesus’ response was to surrender Himself completely to God the Father and allow His will to be accomplished. Jesus was deeply afraid, but He did not let Himself be ruled by fear (Luke 22:44). He prayed not to be spared from various terrible things, but to be able to endure all that His Father willed to be fulfilled.

When our prayers are not answered and what happens is something unpleasant, keep thinking and responding rightly. We will be enabled to accept reality, praise God, let go of what He has taken from us, and ask Him to strengthen us as we walk through His will. Amen.

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Church GKDI is currently in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at contact Church GKDI Official: WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

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