Answered Prayers

I have always known that prayer is a powerful thing. I have been taught that God always answers prayers, even if it's not the answer I was expecting. Through the years I have seen prayers answered-those of my own and others. It's incredible to pray to God for something so fervently and be given a definite answer.

Many people question why God has decided not to answer their prayer. Over the past few months God has really been teaching me that no prayer goes unnoticed or unanswered. There are times God simply answers "No" or "Not yet". These answers are not because he does not love us or does not want to fulfill our desires, but because he has something better in mind and plans to work it out in a way that is so much better than we can comprehend.

Over the past few months, I have been praying and pleading with God to fulfill a desire. I would plead and beg, and cry; always wondering why God didn't seem to hear my cries. Finally God grabbed a hold of my heart and helped me realize that I needed to trust him. I was asking and expecting God to give me what I asked for, rather than ask Him if it is what I needed at the time.

Although I received a "Not yet" to my request, my incredible God provided me with an opportunity to put my focus on. Tim and I have decided to attend a missions trip to Thailand this coming summer. The opportunity presented itself right when I felt that my prayer would never be answered. After considering it and praying about it, I feel it is something that God wants us to participate in. I can't wait to see what God will do through this missions trip. I'm so excited that although I am still waiting for my prayer to be completely answered, God has placed this opportunity to "hold me over". He truly is a God that supplies all our needs, and sometimes our wants.