Before I came to Middle Tennessee in 2004, I barely knew country music. My repertoire began and ended with, You Picked a Fine Time to Leave Me Lucille. But after being here for just a few months, I was introduced to some great lyrics that would resonate in anyone’s heart. Garth Brook’s song, Unanswered Prayers, was that for me.
I had been living far away—not walking with the Lord for about five years when He first called me back to Himself. Terrified I had crossed the line of ever being able to return, and not having a clue of how to even begin, I prayed for God to take me back to the days when as a new creation in Christ my slate was clean and my faith was strong. I pleaded that with one giant sweep of His hand He would get rid of all the sin I had allowed back into my heart.
But God said, “No. It would physically kill you if I did.”
As drastic as that seems, there was nothing I could say in response. Had God given me what I wanted when I wanted it, my heart would not have changed. I would have fallen back into the same way of life, making the same choices, ending up in the same tangled mess I was trying to escape. In looking back I can now see the Lord was loving me in the way I needed.
All of us have been there in one way or another. Whether it’s a deeply felt request, or a wistful want, we have all come before our Heavenly Father asking for what we think is best.
And when He says no, do we truly trust Him?
Do we praise Him saying, “Okay, this doesn’t feel good or look the way I thought it would, but I know, that I know, that I know, You love me.
I’m grateful God said no to me so many years ago. In His timing, He had me face and confess sin that had infiltrated my heart. He cleansed me as I could bear it. Bringing about a new wholeness, He drew me into a relationship with Him I never knew was possible. He took my heart of stone and replaced it with a softened one. I find myself falling more in love with Him each day.
The Lord is my Heavenly Father and my Savior. I can never be grateful enough or fully express what He has done for me. His love is beyond words.
The blessing of unanswered prayer still quiets my heart. I pray it will for you too.
“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.”
-Garth Brooks
With much love,
Kimberly
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah”
– Psalm 46:10-11 nkjv
