Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8

Our Father … Your will be done. Matthew 6:9-13

Devotion

Perhaps, like me, you have asked God to answer a certain prayer for a very long time, expecting the outcome to provide contentment, a cure, or the healing of a relationship. The request might be personal or for someone else, but in any case, it seems like God is simply not going to answer this prayer. 

Human nature is filled with desires. Wishes are often placed in the needs category because we consider them to be a necessary ingredient of happiness in our lives. I must admit this kind of thinking sometimes enters my prayer life. 

“Lord, I want” … “Will you please give me” ... After all, he did say something about giving us the desires of our heart, right? 

We want what we want, and we are convinced that we need it, but Matthew writes; “Your Father knows what you need before you ask.” God knows our deepest desires, but he is also keenly aware of our future. He is not limited to the here and now, so he knows what matters at this moment may not even exist tomorrow. 

God’s lovingkindness, compassion, justice, and mercy lead him to consider what best fulfills his plans and what will benefit his children. In other words: his decisions are based on what brings him the most glory, never forgetting that we are a part of his glory. 

A seemingly unanswered prayer is more likely to be an unrecognized reply. Unrecognized because we have stopped seeking the answer, we are too focused on our own chosen outcome, or maybe we are simply not ready to accept the “no” or “not yet” that has already been given. 

Yet, God’s character alone should tell us there is a good reason for him not to acquiesce to this or any other request. Even if our request sounds to us like a perfect plan, his “no” or “not yet” should be sufficient because his answers are always fully informed. 

God’s vision and ours rarely come into alignment, with good reason: his omniscience. God already knows the outcome of every situation and the consequence of each request. He has already seen the future and knows if what we ask will be a lasting benefit or lead to a disastrous end. 

If we were sitting face-to-face, I believe God would lovingly ask: “Have you considered the consequences of this request? Do you understand how my ‘yes’ might change the course of your spiritual life, health, or relationships? How will it impact someone else’s? Have you considered what you might have to give up if you receive your request? Will it require you to make a choice? Perhaps a choice between two things you dearly love.” 

God’s answer to our prayers always considers the consequences: good and/or bad. Afterall, he sent his Son into a world that rejected him so he could save us. 

Our acceptance of God’s response to our prayers may or may not be easy, but we can always trust that his decisions will ultimately lead to a glorious conclusion.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for being our omnipresent and omniscient guide, steering us clear of the dangers that might lay ahead of us. Help us to focus on your lovingkindness even when the answer to our prayer is silence or not what we want to hear. May we learn to trust you even more with each “yes,” “no,” or “not yet” answer that you provide. And above all, may your will be done. I pray in Jesus’ name, amen!

Pam Ingle
Pastor, Single Adult Ministries

Resources

• Watch Beyond Words Sermon Series.
• Listen to God Who Listens by Chris Tomlin.
• Read Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God by Timothy Keller

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