Faith When Prayers Seem Unanswered

By: Emma Novak

Being a teenager in our world today can be difficult.   A lot of people do not comprehend how everyone is carrying their own cross and we all need Jesus.  Having an understanding of how to deal with times of distress even when prayers seem unanswered, can be a crucial way to live a happier life.  So many people in our world today do not know that everyone is struggling.  Job 13:15 states: “Though He slay me, yet will I hope in Him.”  When life becomes difficult, prayer seems to echo back as unanswered when really our prayers just are not being answered in the way we expect. 

Prayer plays such an important role in a teenager’s life.  People tend to forget the importance of prayer.  And Faith.  The Bible shares many times when people have had faith and when they haven't.  One of my favorite Bible passages is Matthew 14:29-30: "So He said, Come.  And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, 'Lord, save me!” Jesus then saved him. As soon as Peter stopped having faith in Jesus, he began to sink in the water.  It is the same thing with the world we live in today. As long as we have faith we will never sink.  

Mindset can be a key component of times of distress and perhaps, just looking at the big picture might help put this in perspective. You may pray for one thing and expect to get that “exact thing” you desire.  But God is able to look at the big picture!  He is the only one who can see what we truly need in that moment of our life.  In the past, I might have prayed for God to help me to do well at a dance performance or for a test and the outcome wasn’t always what I hoped for.  But, what I didn’t realize is that maybe I didn't “need” to get an A+ on my test, or to do perfect at my sport.  What I might have needed more was to learn from my mistakes and become better from there.  Growth isn't easy.  And neither is perspective.  So before you pray, try to re-frame your intentions.  For example, instead of saying “God I need this and this…” go into it saying “God, if it is your will, please allow me to do well on my test tomorrow.”  All you can do is pray and God will do the rest with the outcome.   

It is important to trust God’s timing and purpose of His decisions. God knows everything we need and when we need it.  Proverbs 3:5-6 states: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, not on your own intelligence.  He will make your paths straight."  Trusting what God has in store for you may not be the easiest option.  But truly, it will work out the best for you in the long run and the best way to grow a better understanding with what God has in store for you is through prayer.  The more you pray and learn about the ways of Christ, the more you will know that God wants the best for you.  

Having faith can be hard, but having doubt is too.  It is up to you to decide the path you want to take.  Whether you choose God or yourself.  No one knows what is in store for them, so I think all we can do is have faith.  No matter what the outcome might be, one thing is for sure.  If God allows something to happen in our lives, it is always to help us to become saints.  Jeremiah 29:11 "He plans to prosper you, to give you hope and a future."