SEARCHLIGHT
What do you do when God does not answer your prayers? You know that what you are praying for is good and would be a blessing, but God is not granting your request. How do you respond?
SCRIPTURE
"But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb. Because the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb, her rival kept provoking her in order to irritate her. This went on year after year.” 1 Samuel 1:5B-7.
SPOTLIGHT
She was an intelligent, attractive, deeply committed Christian woman who had not yet married. Did she want to marry? Oh yes! Deep in her heart she was preparing herself to love an intelligent, handsome, deeply committed Christian man. However, he never seemed to show up. There were many Godly men who appeared, but none seemed to be, “Mr. Christian Right.” So, she waited, and waited and waited. Sometimes anxiously in her prayer time she would ask, “Where is he, God? Please give me a husband?”
Years passed, and no Godly husband. Deep in her spirit she continued to pray. Year after year, he did not show up. She was not getting younger. Then she reached her 30’s. People often asked when she was going to get married. When she entered her 40’s, people became quiet. Friends had learned to avoid this sensitive subject. Was she being too picky? Was she not listening to God?
Nothing appeared like it would change. Her life was built around her satisfying job, family, friends, and church. By now, she had learned to live alone. Then she entered her 50’s and it happened. The Godly man arrived. She knew it and he knew it. Why wait very long? They were married and for all the years that her many friends felt she had wasted, in a short time, those years were all made back. Together, this Godly Christian couple loved each other, and did great things for the honor, and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why did God seem to close the door on many prospective Christian men who she met over the course of more than 30 years? There are many possibilities, but there is also one that is difficult to understand, yet accept. Let me explain.
In the Scripture passage above, we read two times the words, “and the Lord had closed her womb…the Lord had closed Hannah’s womb.” Hannah was an intelligent, attractive, deeply committed believer. She wanted to be a loving mother, yet the author of this book knew something that she did not know. God stopped conception because He had a perfect time for Hannah to have a baby. Her child would be a boy named Samuel. When God wanted him to arrive on the world scene, He would be born and become a great man of God who would have a tremendous influence on the nation of Israel for many years.
God did the very same thing when it came to the birth of His Son, Jesus. The time for the coming of the Messiah had to be divinely precise. God had a plan that superseded man’s ideas. Galatians 4:4,5 states, “But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.” God knew exactly the right time for Samuel to be born, just as He did for His Son, Jesus.
It is difficult to understand, yet alone accept that God works in mysterious ways. You do not see the beginning and the end of your story the way God does. God’s wisdom and ways are so incomprehensible. The Bible says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” ‘declares the Lord.’ “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8,9.] God sees and knows the beginning and the end. Hannah did not know that her only son would become one of the most influential men of God to walk the face of this earth. She became disappointed, discouraged and exasperated, yet, she kept talking to God. God had a perfect time for Samuel to be born, because God has purposes and plans for you that are incomprehensible.
You may think that God has denied answering a prayer. Maybe He is just delaying it because His timing is perfect. His wisdom and ways may run opposite to what you desire. Hannah wanted to be a loving mother and was far more fit than her rival, but God knew the right time for motherhood. WHEN GOD MYSTERIOUSLY WORKS, get ready for something unique to happen. God is preparing you for the best and protecting you from the worst. Will you stay close to Him like Hannah did even though you do not like the way things are going? Draw close to God rather than drawing away, as so many do.
SOMETHING TO DO
Discover how to stay close to God when prayers are not being answered by reading Psalm 37. David provides a number of steps you should take. Thank God for the promise in verses, 23 and 24.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, I want to stay close to You when I don’t understand why You are not answering my prayers. I want You to open and close doors for me. I want to trust You and delight in following Your wisdom and ways. Help me to remember that although I may not have what I am praying for, I am better off than someone who does not know You as I do! Thank you for making Yourself real to me. AMEN.