Unanswered Prayers

The past couple of weeks have been quite long as well as quite educational. I have learned a lot about others, myself and God's grace and soverign plan.

There is a cheesy country song that has been going through my head every so often these past couple of weeks and it could more than apply to lessons learned. It talks about how at one point in the singer's life, he was on a certain path and thought that that was what was meant to be for his life. But , as often happens in life, time marches on and things change. This man encountered a part of his past that he thought would have been his future and began to reflect on what if's. The man was forced to look at his present life along side of his past life that he so desperately thought would have been his future. And what he discovered is that God knows what He is doing after all. That had God answered his prayers the way the man had prayed them, he would be somewhere quite different and it relieved him that God seemed to not answer the way he had hoped.

The reality is ... God did answer that prayer in the song and in my life.

There have been many times that God has chosen 'wait' or 'no' as an answer to my prayers. These answers are often hard to accept but are always the best. And some time down the road of time when I see where the road is going or could have gone, I remember to thank God for (seemingly)unanswered prayers. The goal is to thank God before we receive the answer which is my goal! I am not saying this is easy, because it's not but it is possible with prayer and patience!

I was faced with a part of my past that was attempting to reenter and threaten my present and my future this past week. It was very difficult to try and mesh the two together and quite confusing. But as God so often does, just when things seemed the foggiest, He brought people and parts of His word to my attention that helped clear the way.

I am amazed each day at God's soverignty when I look at my relationship with Paul and how perfect a choice he is for me. He is an even better answer to prayer than I ever could have hoped for! He is a better partner, love and best friend than I ever could have prayed for!

I used to listen to that song as one that was sad and heartbreaking. A collection of 'what if's' and regret. Now, when I hear that same song, I have new understanding as I too now thank God for unanswered prayers.