Gratitude for Unanswered Prayers
- Kelly Price
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
I never expected to be grateful for unanswered prayers, yet here I am looking back and seeing how those "unanswered" moments were exactly what I needed. Different events in my life have unfolded because I didn't get what I asked for.
During my weekly small group, while studying Isaiah, this poem/prayer was in my Bible. It hit me in a way I didn't expect. In the middle of my own struggles, I found so much hope in it.
Weak...Humble
How many of us have to learn through our weaknesses and failures before becoming humble enough to actually learn from them? That has undoubtedly been the story of my life—failing forward yet learning to turn toward God and His promises in those moments.
Health...Infirmity (Physical Weakness)
I've always found it ironic that the times I was most busy, under a tight deadline, or "didn't have time" to get sick were the exact moments God laid me flat on my back and said, "Nope. You need to rest. Nothing is more important." Sometimes this came through my own illness, and sometimes through my son's when he was a baby. Somehow, he never got sick at a "convenient" time. It was God's way of saying, "Slow down. Pay attention to what truly matters." Just as He leans into us in our weak moments, He calls for us to lean into Him.
Rich...Poverty
I probably learned the most - and became the most humble - during seasons of financial struggle. Even though I used to ask for "riches" to be happy, I found the most joy when I had the least. Those seasons forced me to rely on God and others around me. It is incredible how dependence can produce so much gratitude, closeness, and joy.
Power...Weakness
Whenever I find myself seeking outside affirmation or praise, I end up disappointed. That desire for worldly recognition never satisfies and often leaves us disappointed. But when I act from a humble heart, doing the right thing, not for attention but because it is the right thing to do, I feel the most peace. Expect nothing, gain peace. True fulfillment comes when I am doing it for God, not for the applause or recognition of people.
Enjoy Life...Given Life
I love asking God to help us enjoy all things, rather than asking Him for things we think will bring us joy. Imagine if we stopped looking for "more" and enjoyed what we already have. Simple. Profound.
Control...Gratitude
This part of the poem is the one that hit me the hardest. Don't we all constantly search for our future - for the vision of what we are "supposed to" be doing - instead of being grateful for what we have right now? This was a heart check for me. Be fully present (or Fully Invested, as my friend Chad Willardson says - which is a great book BTW!). See the gifts right in front of you. Take your current life by the horns and practice gratitude in all things.
I got nothing I asked for, but everything I hoped for - despite myself.
When I look back at my prayers, I realize I have been given so much more (and often something completely different) than what I asked for. So many unspoken prayers were answered in ways I didn't even know I needed. And the things I didn't think were "good" at the time - I can now see how God used them to shape the life I have today. I'm grateful for both the good and the hard seasons...for the things I hoped for and didn't receive, and for the blessings I never thought to ask for, but were given to me anyway.
When you are struggling, it is hard to see the light through the forest. But trust God. He is working in the dark, and one day, when you reach the light, you will look back and see precisely how those dark moments prepared you for the unexpected blessings in your life.
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