by Angela Moreno

Back when I was in high school, Garth Brooks released a song called “Unanswered Prayers.” The song is about a young man who prays for a young woman who he believes is the love of his life. He never gains the love of this young girl and later in life, goes on to marry another woman. After a chance encounter, he realizes that he really dodged a bullet and she was not the one God had intended for him. The song then states “one of God’s greatest gifts is unanswered prayers”.

When I first heard the song, I didn’t fully understand the meaning. How can I be grateful that God is not answering my prayers? Jesus said all we had do was ask and believe and it will come to pass (John 15:7). It has taken me many years to come to appreciate and fully understand why God may not “answer” some prayers. God always hears our prayers…sometimes the answer isn’t what we expect it to be.

Back in the Old Testament, a prophet named Habukkuk is fed up with the violence and the behavior of the Israelites. He prays to God and asks, “why are you silent and not listening? Why don’t you make your people do right?” (Habukkuk 1:1-4) Habukkuk has a deep reverence and respect for God, but he does not understand God’s silence and is requesting an immediate answer.

God answers Habukkuk and it is most definitely not the answer Habukkuk was looking for. God says, “I’m sending the Chaldeans to overtake the Jews.” (Habukkuk 1:5-11) More violence was not the answer that Habukkuk was looking for. I can only imagine the first thoughts that probably ran through Habukkuk’s mind. I’m sure it was a “WHAT??? That is not what I wanted. More death and violence!”

Habukkuk goes back to the Lord to ask for clarity in the situation.  He does not understand why God would allow people who are more evil than the Israelites to overtake God’s chosen people. However, he fully trusts the plan of God and sits back to wait for it to unfold (Habukkuk 2:1). After some time, Habukkuk finds out that God intends to overtake the Chaldeans Himself and release the Israelites relieving some of the violence that Habukkuk sees.  Also by showing His hand, God will once again gain the following of the Israelites (Habukkuk 2:16-17).

We have two very random situations.  A young man who so desperately wants the love of a woman that he prays every night for God to give her to him.  A prophet who desperately wants peace for his people and for them to do the right thing and follow God.  Two prayers that didn’t receive the answer that either man expected.

God heard and answered both prayers according to His will.  1 John 5:14-15:  And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us (emphasis mine). And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.  Did you notice the words according to His will?

We can ask God for whatever our heart desires, but He already has a plan for your life and He knows the best path for you to take. God knew that the young man and the young woman had nothing in common with each other. He also knew that there was another young woman just around the corner who would be perfect for him. God answered his prayer for love at that time- the perfect time.

God wanted peace for Habukkuk and the rest of the Jews. He wanted the violence to end and the Jews to turn back to Him in faith.  However, God knew from past experience that it would take drastic measures to get the attention of the Israelites so He allowed the Chaldeans to overtake them. God delivered them at a later time when the people would be more apt to repent and follow God’s will again.  God answered Habukkuk’s prayer for peace at that time- the perfect time.

Just remember, when you pray, God hears your prayer.  But He is not a vending machine that you put your request into and get exactly what you want. God has your best interest at heart and is trying to spare you some heartbreak or keep you off the wrong path. What we want isn’t always the best option for our life at that time.

Don’t get upset if your prayer isn’t immediately answered. God is always busy and always working on something for us.  Some prayers take a little longer to answer.  All the right pieces have to be in place.

God’s timing is perfect and He will always hear and answer your prayer according to His will for your life.