What do you do when you pray for something, and it seems as though the prayers go unanswered? Where is your faith when you go through trials?
From firsthand experience, it’s tough to continue to pray and feel like nothing is happening. Searching for the right path or yearn for a sign that your prayers will be answered is challenging. Over the past few years, I’ve learned that sometimes our prayers may not receive the answers we expect or in the timeline we prefer. Nevertheless, through it all, God teaches us and guides us to a deeper relationship with Him, if we are willing to listen.
When I became pregnant with our first daughter, I decided I was going to breastfeed. I began researching but mostly believed I was created to feed my baby and thought it would come so naturally, but I was so wrong! I did not come as easily as I had anticipated.
My daughter had to go to the NICU right after she was born for extra oxygen support. I couldn’t attempt nursing until she was 2 days old. She struggled to latch and nurse but took a bottle without any problems. I prayed and sought the Lord’s help, but she continued to struggle nursing. I eventually felt at peace with the decision to stop trying to nurse and instead pump for her, especially since I was still working at the time.
When I found out I was pregnant with my second daughter, I was determined to breastfeed her. Throughout my pregnancy, I prayed fervently to the Lord, seeking her ability to nurse without any issues, such as tongue-ties, and asking for a consistent milk supply during her first year of life. I also began learning more about breastfeeding and trusted God that she would nurse successfully.
An Answer to Prayer
After she was born, she latched and nursed, and I was overjoyed! I praised the Lord for hearing my prayers for months. It was confirmed by doctors that she didn’t have a tongue tie—another answered prayer!
Things were going well for a few days, then my daughter stopped latching, and I lost it! I had believed and even received an answer to my prayers—why was this happening? I didn’t think I could pump and feed through a bottle again. (And yes, I know “fed is best” but the desire of my heart is to be able to feed my babies.)
Then I found the following Scripture:
“I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24, NLT)
It clicked in my spirit! I had been praying over my daughter, and believed I needed to keep declaring blessings over her. While listening to praise and worship one morning I found the song, “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship, it became my anthem and cry during those first few months! I sang and declared the song and Scripture over my daughter.
My prayers were answered once again when my daughter resumed breastfeeding. Even five months later, I still pray and declare this Scripture over her feeding and her sleep, but that’s a story for another day!
I’m far from perfect, but one thing I’ve learned over the last several years is that God wants us to be close to Him and have a deep relationship with Him! He wants us to depend on Him as our Good Father.
Through it all, He is there beside us, guiding us deeper. He desires to be the first place we turn to in our troubles and trials. The fact that my oldest daughter didn’t latch and nurse could have been a reason for me to wallow, but I was able to feed her through pumping, which turned out to be a blessing and a valuable learning experience! Learning from my first child prepared me for feeding my second. God gave me wisdom and knowledge throughout it all. He also guided me to Mark 11:24 and helped to deepen my trust in Him.
How do we learn to depend on Him more?
- Read the Bible: I used to think I had to sit and read for a set amount of time or read a certain number of chapters, but as I grew older and spent more time with my Bible, I learned some days I might spend more time reading, and other days might be shorter. It’s the act of obedience and surrendering ourselves to be guided in His word. Let Him speak to you in those moments. Set aside your phone and turn off the TV and just spend time with Him, just as you would with your family or friends.
- Pray: One of my favorite verses lately, other than Mark 1:24, is pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Let talking to God be at the forefront of your mind. He will give you peace and strength to make it through tough trials. Whether you’re out driving, taking a walk or cooking, just pray and lean on Him. He will provide you with peace and support you through any challenges you face.
- Worship: Music is powerful. Filling your mind and heart with uplifting music and worshiping Him allows you to surrender your desires to Him. It will draw you closer to Him and encourage you during the hard times of life. The song, “Trust in God” was just what I needed to help me declare truth over my situation. Even today, when negative thoughts enter my mind, I sing this song, and peace washes over me. It encourages me that I can trust in God because He is faithful, and I know He is! He is trustworthy and wants good things for me, His daughter.
What is your first response when your prayers go unanswered?
