"The _______ of Unanswered Prayer"

[Nelson Bradford]

Question: If you were asked to fill in the blank with one word, what would it be?

Thank you
-neb

ps - Isn't God good?!

[Hans Deventer]

Wow! I can think of many words:

pain, struggle, problem, paradox, burden, riddle.

But I understand only one is allowed. Then it would be paradox.

[Roland Hearn]

I'm going to say "reality". Too many people go looking for answers to prayer in too many places that are probably not answers at all.

[Orbin Crouch]

From someone who is now seeing the Sunset of their lives mine would be:

gratitude

[Barbara Moulton]

The Blessing of Unanswered Prayer

Similiar to Orbin. I am grateful for all the prayers that God did not answer literally. When I was in College I was "in love" with a man who I really thought was "it" for me. I prayed and prayed for our relationship to blossom but he broke it off. I was heartbroken. And I prayed some more.

Now, after 23 years of marriage to Carl, I am grateful that God did not give me what I asked for.

Still, I find it hard to really say that this was an "unanswered prayer". My experience has been that God always responds to the deep need that prompts my prayers. He looks beyond my words to the heart of my request.

As I look back over my life, I can't help but feel that God has really always answered my prayer. But He has done this by providing what I really need...not what I thought I wanted.

It is for this reason, that I have decided to make it easier on myself. My prayers have become more about surrendering my needs to God for Him to answer according to His wisdom then about specific requests.

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

Coming along side Orbin and Barbara -

The comfort of Unanswered Prayer.

It is in the moments of what i am preceiving as an unanswered prayer that i feel His arms around me the tighest.

[Pam Little]

Grace

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

Grace

wow - that one is powerful and strong.

[Marsha Gupton]

Sometimes it is the miracle of unanswered prayer

[Wilson L. Deaton]

Question: If you were asked to fill in the blank with one word, what would it be?

Thank you
-neb

ps - Isn't God good?!

I want to answer this in the context of real Christians praying (as opposed to a stubborn backslider, for example):

The Illusion of Unanswered Prayer.

Everytime we don't get what we want it appears to be unanswered prayer but not getting what we want doesn't mean God isn't answering.

Wilson

[Paul Whitaker]

I believe there is a country music song which says something like -
I thanik God for unanswered prayers.

The gift of unanswered prayer? It is sometimes a gift because God is nudging us in another direction.

[Gina Stevenson]

From someone who is now seeing the Sunset of their lives mine would be:

gratitude

Yes, I can definitely see how one could look back on many unanswered prayers, and be glad they weren't answered. Reminds me -- in a more comical vein -- about this one gal who, after finding her "perfect husband," said she was glad that the Lord hadn't answered all her prayers over several years that were about allowing her to marry various ones she'd dated. :)

Well, actually, He'd answered ... just "no," rather than "yes." :fav18

[Gina Stevenson]

Question: If you were asked to fill in the blank with one word, what would it be?

Thank you
-neb

ps - Isn't God good?!


Thinking back to a few years ago, that word would be "heartbreak" ... the heartbreak of unanswered (or negatively answered) prayer.

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

i first said comforted - -because that is how i feel when i am at my best - -

but in honesty -

There are times i
Cry because of unanswered prayer...

And i know He knows best because i know His character- but it sure doesn't feel like best.

[Gina Stevenson]

i first said comforted - -because that is how i feel when i am at my best - -

but in honesty -

There are times i
Cry because of unanswered prayer...

And i know He knows best because i know His character- but it sure doesn't feel like best.

A song comes to mind ... "When you can't see His hand, trust His heart."
Was it Cynthia Clawson wtih Wayne Watson? Whatever, super song!

[Nelson Bradford]

Thus far we have . . . .

Blessing
Burden
Comfort
Gift
Grace
Gratitude
Heartbreak
Illusion
Miracle
Pain
Paradox
Problem
Reality
Riddle
and
Struggle

Did I overlook (not intentionally) your response, or are there others?

Anyone?

Thanx, NazNetters! You have come through again.

-neb

[Joel Merrill]

I want to answer this in the context of real Christians praying (as opposed to a stubborn backslider, for example):

The Illusion of Unanswered Prayer.

Everytime we don't get what we want it appears to be unanswered prayer but not getting what we want doesn't mean God isn't answering.

Wilson

I was going to say that too. Just because God says "no" doesn't mean it wasn't answered. God answers all prayers, he just doesn't always answer the way we want him to.

Joel

[Gordon Greene]

"The Ministry of Unanswered Prayer"

Sometimes GOD doesn't answer our prayers because He is busy answering our prayers. He just doesn't keep us up to snuff (see Word Fads thread by Barb Bouldrey :) ) with what He is doing. Because we do not know what He is doing does not mean He is not doing anything.

When Lucas was around three he started asking me why I had to go to work at night. He wanted me to stay home with him. I would tell him that mom had spent all our money and I had to go make some more. One night before leaving for work he came out of his room with an envelope that had some pennies in it and gave it to me. In his mind, because he gave me his money, I could stay home. It was a precious, precious moment to me.

When I continue to pray and the weeks have turned into months and the months into years and GOD has still not answered my prayer there is a reason. The desire of my heart is good, that which I ask for would glorify GOD, and yet a strange silence. What then?


James 1:2-7 (KJV)

2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.


James 1:2-7 (NIV)

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;


From my study of these scriptures I learned that we need to be patient with patience. If you put a cake into the oven and every minute or two open the oven to see if the cake is done it will take a lot longer for the cake to bake than if you just put it in and wait until you know the cake is done and then take it out.

Most of us are too quick to want to see how the picture will develop. It is like having one of those old instamatic cameras. We take the picture and when the film comes out is begins to develop. Instead of waiting to see what develops we get our fingerprints all over the picture, smuding and smearing and greatly diminishing the quality of the picture. If we can just keep our hands off we eventually will see what it is GOD is wanting to show us.

GOD is more than willing to give us wisdom, liberally, generously, if we ask.

But...we must have unwavering faith.

Waves coming in to the beach can be impressive as they crest and then roll into the beach. But then they quietly retreat back from where they came from. Faith for the moment will only last for the moment. We are not to be like the waves.

A river, on the other hand, moves with purpose, effecting the landscape as it goes. It leaves an impression wherever it goes. Remember it was a river that formed the Grand Canyon. An impressive faith effects the lives of those it touches, quietly, often unaware of its' impact on others.

The ministry of unanswered prayer is that it does develop perserverance and patience as we with unwavering faith continue to pray. As we continue in prayer the strange silence becomes a holy peace as we take the answer out of our hands and place it into His. Our "giving our few pennies" to Him is very, very precious in His sight.


.....peace.....

[Diane Likens]

I want to answer this in the context of real Christians praying (as opposed to a stubborn backslider, for example):

The Illusion of Unanswered Prayer.

Everytime we don't get what we want it appears to be unanswered prayer but not getting what we want doesn't mean God isn't answering.

Wilson

Well put, Wilson! My answer was going to be "myth". There's no such thing as an unanswered prayer -- it's just that sometimes the answer is "no".

[Hans Deventer]

Well put, Wilson! My answer was going to be "myth". There's no such thing as an unanswered prayer -- it's just that sometimes the answer is "no".

I've got one problem with that: how do you distinguish the two?

[Gordon Greene]

Actually, when does prayer become about answers and not about Him?

Remember when the serpent asked Eve if she could not eat from any tree from the Garden. he focused on the minute little that she was not allowed. Focusing on unanswered prayer is our focusing on the little that "GOD has not done" instead of all that He has.

I prayed, "GOD?"

He replied, "Yes?"

My prayer was answered.

The truth is that there is far more unanswered prayer on our part than GOD's. Remember prayer is conversation and that there are things He speaks to us in prayer that He desires of us. How often are "GOD's prayers" unanswered?

.....peace.....

[Brad Mercer]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest. Psalms 22:1-2 (NRSV)


From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matt 27:45-46 (NRSV)


I think anyone who is so holy they've never allowed themselves to acknowledge the pain of experiencing God as silent and absent and unresponsive and unanswering is remarkably holy, indeed.


I repeat like mantras the phrases "God is love", "God must be God" and "Love must be enough", but often I repeat them through gritted teeth, like Job saying "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in him."


My faith is unfailing but it is not unwavering, and I think that puts me in good company.


Brad

P.S. For an opposing view, also by me, see an entry on my blog from some time back. I somehow sincerely believe both my post here on Naznet and my contradictory blog entry. ;-)

http://bradsbigbadbrisbaneblog.blogspot.com/2005/07/prayer-is-never-futile.html

[Hans Deventer]

Actually, when does prayer become about answers and not about Him?

From the moment on that He said,

7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Jesus did not say, "don't ask, just seek God. God does not care what you ask for." In stead, He portrayed God as a Father who would provide for our daily needs. And sure, we are to seek the Kingdom first, but that does not mean God only gives to those that seek the Kingdom. Instead,

He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Remember when the serpent asked Eve if she could not eat from any tree from the Garden. he focused on the minute little that she was not allowed. Focusing on unanswered prayer is our focusing on the little that "GOD has not done" instead of all that He has.

I'm sorry, to see my wife suffer daily, never waking up without pain, is not "little". It hurts. It is not about living a life of immense luxury and just not getting that one little thing, like living in a 10 million dollar house in Malibu but just lacking that nice little cabin in Colorado.

I prayed, "GOD?"

He replied, "Yes?"

My prayer was answered.

That's great. I did not hear a "yes" yet.

The truth is that there is far more unanswered prayer on our part than GOD's. Remember prayer is conversation and that there are things He speaks to us in prayer that He desires of us. How often are "GOD's prayers" unanswered?

The truth is also that these words don't help for people who are suffering. I'm sorry Gordon, to add more guilt to a sufferer is not helping a lot. Jesus did not teach us some higher spiritual way, did not say that if we just saw things differently, everything would change. He did not teach the people just to seek God and left them at that. He healed people. He was filled with compassion. His heart broke for the sick, lost, shepherdless masses of Israel.
That is the God I believe in and because of that, I struggle. I would even be glad with the answer Paul got. At least he got an answer. The "how long" is however a very well known question in the Psalms. Paul adds that the entire creation is waiting. Well, so am I. How long, Lord? No answer yet.

[Eugenia Whitten]

Some of Gods Greatest Gifts are unanswered Prayers

[Paul Whitaker]

Hans said:


I'm sorry, to see my wife suffer daily, never waking up without pain, is not "little". It hurts. It is not about living a life of immense luxury and just not getting that one little thing, like living in a 10 million dollar house in Malibu but just lacking that nice little cabin in Colorado.
==================================
Living in a house in Malibu and owning a little cabin in Colorado means nothing when we come down to the "nitty gritty" of life. Those who have the real estate don't necessarily escape the realities of life. Real estate doesn't mean a thing when we consider what we are going to 'take with us' to eternity. After we are gone the real estate is just a bunch of empty boxes.

Could it be that some of the 'things' we have were acquired without prayers but by 'brute force'.?

[Paul Whitaker]

Garth Brooks has a song "Unanswered Prayers".

I think several of us on NazNet wake up with pain. It's not easy when the doctor says "Yes, you do have a big problem but we can't help you".

One doctor said "I see from you MRI that you have a reason for pain. However, I do not give meds for pain. I will give you norflex but nothing else."

[Hans Deventer]

Living in a house in Malibu and owning a little cabin in Colorado means nothing when we come down to the "nitty gritty" of life.

Exactly.

[Ray Hendrix]

The WISDOM of unanswered prayer.

[Roland Hearn]

Hans I am completely with you in your responses.
I am utterly tired of the seemingly spiritual response that recounts the rhetoric of "even ‘no’ is an answer." That comes from our own desire to make balance where there is no balance. There have been times when I have been in agony of spirit, broken, down hearted and feeling like heaven is as brass and I have pled with God, just like Job did, to step out of heaven and just say "No". The problem with unanswered prayer is precisely that we didn't get a "no" and therefore we don't know what to hold on for. When days, turn into weeks and weeks into months and months into years and a situation that is bringing great pain does not change and you are pleading with God to make a difference or just to give the strength to see His grace in the middle of the pain and you still feel like God is not responding then you cease using clichés about unanswered prayer.
However faith says, "when all my prayers go unanswered and I feel like abandoning my faith I will hold on to Him because to live through this without Him is even worse to contemplate."
It is in the middle of those situations that a theology begins to emerge that separates God's involvement in our circumstances as pre-eminent in my concerns and enshrines the principle that His primary area of concern is making me like Him no matter what my circumstances are like. His grace may do absolutely nothing with my circumstances but it can still shape me to be more like Him, to be more loving, more patient, more giving, more empathetic. And yet even then when it is someone we love in the middle of real pain that we want and need God to move into that whole idea is still little solace. Yet God must be God and love must be enough, which in itself is a cliché but it is the only one that works for me.
Hans your pain for Hannie in her pain is the locale for your struggle with God. Nothing that does not touch her pain will be good enough but God will meet you in the middle of this struggle – He must or He will cease being God. I love you and Hannie. I am praying for you. God will answer, He will touch both of you but I cannot say how He will do it.

[Hans Deventer]

Hans your pain for Hannie in her pain is the locale for your struggle with God. Nothing that does not touch her pain will be good enough but God will meet you in the middle of this struggle – He must or He will cease being God.

Yes. The good news, thankfully, is that Hannie says that He is very close to her. That helps.

I love you and Hannie. I am praying for you. God will answer, He will touch both of you but I cannot say how He will do it.

You know, in 2 weeks, I am to preach on Isaiah. It will be part of a series, Isaiah will be the topic from September to Decemer. And if I found one thing, it is the fact that for Isaiah, God is the ultimate reality. He permeates everything Isaiah says, believes and does. So my sermon will probably be on "conflicting realities". Who said it again that most sermons are preached to oneself?

Thanks for praying, brother! I keep praying for you as well.

[Gordon Greene]

What strange waters I find myself in.

I bring to the table one of my favorite dishes. A recipe that was years in the making. To my surprise others taste and spit out and say it is bad and dump on the floor. Heartbroken, I tearfully gather the broken pieces and clean up. I ask my Father, "Why?"

Brother Hans, it is abundantly clear that I will not have an answer to your why. Lord knows I have sought. Many things I have considered but in the end the rose from His hand will be far more meaningful than from mine. Please forgive the additional pain I have caused. Praying that soon GOD would answer the cry of your heart and for your beloved.

.....peace.....

[Hans Deventer]

What strange waters I find myself in.

I bring to the table one of my favorite dishes. A recipe that was years in the making. To my surprise others taste and spit out and say it is bad and dump on the floor. Heartbroken, I tearfully gather the broken pieces and clean up. I ask my Father, "Why?"

Because, my dear brother, there is a time for everything under the son. And the same goes with truth. What you learned through the years is great, but right now, the time was wrong. We all know the verse that everything works together for good for those that love God. It is kind of a similar thing. It is true!!!! But at the wrong moment, it can almost sound like a curse.
Remember the friends of Job. They started out so well, just sitting with him and mourning. Things went wrong when they started to talk.

Now I am NOT trying to tell you not to write anymore!!!!! On the contrary, most of the time I deeply respect and appreciate what you write. It was just the wrong timing for me, this moment.

And I know, I've been there many times. Thinking I was helping, but in stead .... well, you know the feeling by now.


Brother Hans, it is abundantly clear that I will not have an answer to your why. Lord knows I have sought. Many things I have considered but in the end the rose from His hand will be far more meaningful than from mine. Please forgive the additional pain I have caused. Praying that soon GOD would answer the cry of your heart and for your beloved.

.....peace.....

You did not cause pain, for at this moment, what you said did not help me but it did not hurt me either, for I did not hear it as the word of God. If I had, it would indeed have hurt me.

Perhaps, someday, it will be the word of God for me and I will be able to rejoice in it. And it will be healing.

You know, that is why I have the verse from 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 as my tagline. It is not an answer I would love to get, and I'm sure Paul wasn't too happy with it either. But perhaps, some day, it may be an answer that will bring healing.

[Orbin Crouch]

Unanswered Prayers

Just the other night a hometown football game
My wife and I ran into my old high school flame
And as I introduced them the past came back to me
And I couldnt help but think of the way things used to be.

She was the one that Id wanted for all times
And each night Id spend prayin that God would make her mine
And if hed only grant me this wish I wished back then
Id never ask for anything again.

(chorus)
Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when youre talkin to the man upstairs
That just because he doesnt answer doesnt mean he dont care
Some of gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

She wasnt quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams
And I could tell that time had changed me
Inn her eyes too it seemed
We tried to talk about the old days
There wasnt much we could recall
I guess the lord knows what hes doin after all.

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife
And then and there I thankedd the good lord
For the gifts in my life.

*chorus*
Some of gods greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of gods greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

[Roland Hearn]

Orbin that is pretty much reflective of the two issues being discussed here between which there is a great gulf.
I think most Christians can recognize that when prayers from limited human perspective that are prayed from a personal sense of need (want) go unanswered that is probably an example of the wisdom and grace of God. That is what Garth Brooks is singing about in all his spiritual wisdom, bless his cotton socks.
However the other issue is the one prayed from a deep hole that needs God's grace to be directly involved in personal pain, emtional or otherwise, or even more the pain of another. It is the pain reflected in Psalms or Job or Jesus on the cross. When those prayers remain unanswered Garth Brooks words are nothing but trite platitudes.

[Gina Stevenson]

Now I am NOT trying to tell you not to write anymore!!!!! On the contrary, most of the time I deeply respect and appreciate what you write. It was just the wrong timing for me, this moment.

Agreed; some great poetry -- with accompanying commentary -- has come from Gordon since his coming to NazNet.

And I know, I've been there many times. Thinking I was helping, but in stead .... well, you know the feeling by now.
And to the rest of this, I have to say: "GUILTY!" of what? Speaking more than listening sometimes ... thinking of a particular example where a friend and I were talking about a situation they're in ... and I had much to say ... perhaps could have listened more (tho' I did listen a lot), and said less ... prayed more than I was already praying?? Hans ... so, you're human, too, eh? ;)

AND ROLAND: There you go with those feet again, making me LOL one more time. What is it about you and feet, anyway, eh!? HA! The other night they had to be covered. Now, tonight, whereas some -- when speaking of cotton, and blessings -- speak of blessing someone's "cotton-pickin' heart," with you it's "cotton socks!"

Aye, Matey! Do you have any sermons on-line somewhere that we can hear? I'm guessing from your compassion that comes through on one hand, and your unique humor on the other (hey, maybe we could now talk of "hands & feet"? ;)), in your writing, that a sermon might be most enjoyable. If you've not done it yet, perhaps Brad will handle that, since he's there now and did it for Frisco here. ;)

G'Day!

[Brad Mercer]

Do you have any sermons on-line somewhere that we can hear? I'm guessing from your compassion that comes through on one hand, and your unique humor on the other (hey, maybe we could now talk of "hands & feet"? ;)), in your writing, that a sermon might be most enjoyable. If you've not done it yet, perhaps Brad will handle that, since he's there now and did it for Frisco here. ;)G'Day!


I didn't have anything to do with putting sermons from NewStart-Frisco online, but I just e-mailed the guy who does it, to see if he can make some of Roland's from Frisco available to me if he still has them. If so, I'll figure out how to make them available on the web and post something here.

Brad

[Roland Hearn]

AND ROLAND: There you go with those feet again, making me LOL one more time. What is it about you and feet, anyway, eh!? HA! The other night they had to be covered. Now, tonight, whereas some -- when speaking of cotton, and blessings -- speak of blessing someone's "cotton-pickin' heart," with you it's "cotton socks!"


You know Gina I never quite new how much I am focused on feet. I remember how much I use to love that chorus: "How beautiful are the feet of him who brings good news" but I thought it was because it was scripture in song not because I have a feet fettish - you really are helping me. :basic05


Aye, Matey! Do you have any sermons on-line somewhere that we can hear? I'm guessing from your compassion that comes through on one hand, and your unique humor on the other (hey, maybe we could now talk of "hands & feet"? ;)), in your writing, that a sermon might be most enjoyable. If you've not done it yet, perhaps Brad will handle that, since he's there now and did it for Frisco here. ;)


Well I couldn't guarentee that you would enjoy it, I have had people tell me I am a really annoying preacher. When I was pastoring Frisco my messages always were on line so Brad should be able to come up with something. I doubt it will end up being worth the effort but of course it makes me feel very loved that you would ask for such a thing :).

[Hans Deventer]

Orbin that is pretty much reflective of the two issues being discussed here between which there is a great gulf.

I think most Christians can recognize that when prayers from limited human perspective that are prayed from a personal sense of need (want) go unanswered that is probably an example of the wisdom and grace of God. That is what Garth Brooks is singing about in all his spiritual wisdom, bless his cotton socks.

However the other issue is the one prayed from a deep hole that needs God's grace to be directly involved in personal pain, emtional or otherwise, or even more the pain of another. It is the pain reflected in Psalms or Job or Jesus on the cross. When those prayers remain unanswered Garth Brooks words are nothing but trite platitudes.

Thank you for finally making clear what I felt but could not find the words for. This is exactly the issue. I thought it was timing, but it is not. It is circumstance. Gordon, consider Roland's post here as the reply I should have given.

[Gina Stevenson]

Oh, yeah ... do I feel "duh!" Should've remembered that some of his, not just yours (you told us about a sermon or two that we listened to of yours long ago), would be right here on Frisco's website; don't have to wait for an Aussie website to appear. When I've got a bit of time, I'll check out Frisco's site.

Thanks for the reminder, Brad. ;)

I didn't have anything to do with putting sermons from NewStart-Frisco online, but I just e-mailed the guy who does it, to see if he can make some of Roland's from Frisco available to me if he still has them. If so, I'll figure out how to make them available on the web and post something here.

Brad

[Brad Mercer]

Oh, yeah ... do I feel "duh!" Should've remembered that some of his, not just yours (you told us about a sermon or two that we listened to of yours long ago), would be right here on Frisco's website; don't have to wait for an Aussie website to appear. When I've got a bit of time, I'll check out Frisco's site.

Thanks for the reminder, Brad. ;)

Well, it's not THAT "duh". A few of my sermons are still at www.newstart-frisco.com, because I've preached there within the past few months. But Roland's been gone for two years, so his have all dropped off. I just wrote to NewStart-Frisco's IT guy Christer, who's in Sweden right now, to see if he still has a couple of sermon series by Roland that used to be on the website, that he can recover and make available as podcasts. That way I'd be able to download them and he wouldn't have to leave them on the church website. I'd presumably be able to make the files available myself then through some other mechanism. If he doesn't have them or it's too much work to make them available, we'll just have to start recording sermons he preaches here.

Brad

[Gina Stevenson]

Reviving this thread to use the word "pain" in the blank this time. 'Does not matter what someone does, or doesn't do, this thing is sooo cyclical ... and it's SOOO hard to get anything done when poison bitterness is dumped on you, because it kills spirit/energy, leaving one without enough energy to DO what they're trying/have been trying to do.

"YOU need to go get HELP! YOU have NEVER learned to STOP TEARING PEOPLE DOWN!" I finally had to respond. She thinks everybody else needs help, but she doesn't; if they'd just let her run the world, she/everything would be "all right." (Not!)
[most deleted; tho't I'd clicked, "Preview" so I could "copy" to the less-permanent board, but guess I accidentally clicked "Save" first, before clicking over on "Preview," to where it gets you to a screen that can be copied (can't be copied in the writing stage)].

THANK YOU much for praying, gals/lurkers, etc.

blessings on your day; pray it gets better here ................. thank you.

[Mamie White]

The bad part is---When we think God is not going to answer a prayer and we decide to put feet to our prayers and try to help God.

Waiting for an answer is hard and sometimes the prayer has been answered but not the way we think it should be.

Mamie

[John Kennedy]

I'm answering 'patience', but that's because I cheated and looked up the hymn from which it was taken, "Spirit of God, descend upon my heart...."

Teach me to feel taht Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear,
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh;
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

[Marilyn Lawson]

Question: If you were asked to fill in the blank with one word, what would it be?

Thank you
-neb

ps - Isn't God good?!

Frustration,mad, confused, thankfulness, happy.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers
Remember when you're talkin' to the man upstairs
That just because he may not answer doesn't mean he don't care
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Some of gods greatest gifts are unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

When I am going through a situation - I am very frustrated, mad and not knowing what to do.

When I have come through the black hole - I am happy and thankful that God was there with me!!!!

There have been key points in my life that if the prayers had of been answered - many people would not be around me now. I learned the hard way that God really does know what he is doing and that in the long run it will work out!!

So this song by Garth Brooks is one of my favorite:
Some of gods greatest gifts are unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...
Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Marilyn

[Laurie Florence]

Hi,
Sometimes it's "The blessing of unanswered prayer. (Of course, for me this is often true only in retrospect when I'm looking back on situations.) Other times, like when I'm praying for my husband to be saved, it's "The agony and frustration of unanswered prayer". At these times, I try to spend some alone time with God and make a conscious effort to remember that God knows best, He is in control, and He has a plan for all of us. I remember my Grandmother dealing with difficult situations by recalling (and reciting) the words "Thy will be done".

Laurie:fav11