What Do You Do When God Answers Your Prayers?

Have you ever wondered what to do when God answers your prayers?  According to a number of surveys, a large majority of people in this country claim to pray at various times.  I will accept that at face value (only because I don't want to argue about that!)  However, I wonder what the response of these same people would be if they really believed God would answer their prayers and then saw Him do it?  There is no debating that as Christians, we are told to pray without ceasing in I Thessalonians 5:17.  In fact, the word for prayer or pray is used over 400 times in the Bible, so it must be important, don't you think?  Jesus himself told us that whatever we ask in His name, he will do.  So why do we pray such wimpy prayers? And, why are we so shocked when God answers our prayers?

Over the past few months, Anita and I have been struggling financially and we have asked God for His provision for our needs (it's amazing what I see as a need, that God doesn't!)  We have been praying for a job and it appears He has provided es opportunities.  So what do I do now?  One of the jobs will require that Anita and I travel overseas for the next two years.  There are lots of unknowns associated with the job and the move, but God has certainly done what we asked.  The second job will be in the States, and will require that I travel to San Antonio every week.  In retrospect, I did not respond properly when I received the job offers.  My first response was not to go to my knees and thank a faithful Father for His amazing provision.  No, my first response was to begin to see the problems and challenges that would come from working in an international setting, wondering what to do with our home, and probably most important, would our grandchildren even remember us when we returned (that's a big one on my list!)  So, let me say, somewhat belatedly, that we are so grateful for these opportunities God has put before us and we humbly acknowledge that He is indeed Lord!  I would also ask that He forgive my ungrateful hearts!

I have just told you how not to respond, but let me give you an example of what to do when God answers your prayers...even in a way that you never saw coming.  And, even in a way that may cause your heart to hurt!  We have some dear friends who have been a part of our family for more than 25 years.  Their youngest daughter was inseparable from our daughter.  We will call these friends T an D (we do change names to protect the innocent around here!)  From the time their daughters were babies, they have prayed for them to be obedient to God and to be used to His glory.  I know this, because I know their hearts!  When their oldest daughter was in college, she felt called to full-time service ministry.  In fact, she spent almost two years in Asia, as a missionary.  When she returned home she fell in love with and married a young man who, like her, felt called to the ministry, as a missionary.  They pursued the education and training necessary to become missionaries.  All the while, T and D continued that same prayer for their daughter.  Last year, we all learned that their daughter and her family (now with a grandson and a precious granddaughter) would be travelling back to Asia to spread the Good News of the Gospel!  I am sure that their hearts were hurting as they put their daughter's family on a plane to travel half-way around the world, but I also know they had found an amazing joy in the obedience of their daughter and her husband and they were truly grateful to God for His answered prayer!

So, what do you do when God answers your prayer...even with an answer you don't want?  First, respond with thanksgiving.  God wants only the best for His children, not the easiest, not the safest, not the most comfortable, but the best.  Second, go ahead and tell God that you will need His grace and His mercies to get through that answer to your prayers.  He already knows when you feel disappointed and hurt.  You can't surprise Him or shock Him and He will love you no less, just because you are unhappy with His answer to your prayers.  Lastly, like the woman who persistently begged the judge for justice, keep praying!