unanswered prayers

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Power of Prayer

December 22, 2023December 20, 2023 krisshetter

"Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Romans 4:20

My friend Andrea’s last day of breast cancer treatment is today! First, I want to shout out to God a hallelujah for bringing her successfully through to this point in her journey. For the skill He gave the doctors and for the compassion He gifted to nurses that cared for her over this last year. Secondly, to the Holy Spirit who has done a mighty and glorious work in her. A work that has become obvious to others around her. So many of her prayers were answered during this difficult time.

Just a couple weeks ago she received news that a fellow cancer patient would not be completing this journey in the same way. This acquaintance she connected with through Facebook, succumbed to this terrible disease. Andrea then shared with her Christian friends about her ”survivor guilt.”

“Why were my prayers answered but not hers?” she asked.

Our verse today is in reference to the story of Abraham who was promised the gift of child at a very old age. Because of Abraham’s faith, God credited him with righteousness, and a child. The waiting period for that child was 25 years. Almost a lifetime in most of our views. A few times in between that promise and the fulfillment of it Abraham and Sarah tried to take matters into their own hands causing a few problems. They never lost faith, they just thought they’d help God along.

We sit on the cusp of celebrating the birth of another child. A few thousand years ago, two other people were promised children. Another old man with an old wife and a young woman who was yet to finalize her marriage.

"But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. " Luke 1: 13-14

"But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High." Luke 1:30-32

Zechariah was afraid of the angel and a bit untrusting of this promise. He asked for proof. And proof he got — cursed into silence until after his child was born. As for Mary, she just wanted to know how it was going to happen since she was a virgin. The Holy Spirit explained the power of God and used Zechariah’s elderly wife to show her God could do all things. Her words after? “I am the Lord’s servant. May your word to me be fulfilled.” In other words, Mary prayed that God’s promise would come to fruition.

Abraham, Zechariah and Mary all had their prayers answered. While others, I’m sure did not. Abraham’s wife, Sarai, and Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, weren’t the only old world women who prayed for children. There were probably others whose prayers were answered while others’ were not. Just like today. While my friend Andrea’s prayer of the cancer treatments successfully killing the cancer in her were fulfilled other prayers along the way weren’t.

Isn’t one of the great questions posed by believers and unbelievers “why does God answer some prayers and not others?” Even when the prayers seem to be good and selfless. Saints who lived close to God, like the disciples, have been tortured and killed. Does that prove God doesn’t exist? No, for one, it shows how evil’s reign is still holding on by the tip of its nails. How so many people live sinful lives and hurt others. It shows how this world is still broken and is not our final, perfect home. Most of all, it proves that we still are unable to see all of God’s glorious plan.

As if we said, “In my ignorance I have asked for A, B, and C. But don’t give me them if you foresee that they would in reality be to me either snares or sorrows.”… If God had granted all the silly prayers I’ve made in my life, where should I be now?
C.S. Lewis, Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer

We may only know years and years after a prayer was answered or even unanswered as to why God acted in the way He did. As Mary and Elizabeth did when they saw their sons become the announcer of the Messiah and the Messiah Himself some 30 years later. Or we may realize in short time like a job we don’t receive and find out later the company was going bankrupt. It’s always important to remember each time we pray we acknowledge God’s sovereignty over all. We pray for His will be done.

Friends, we shouldn’t feel guilty when we have been blessed with answered prayers. He always wants us to use that gift of time, money, talent, healing, love, etc. to reflect His glory back to the world. For blessings to multiply. And when our prayers seem to go unanswered it’s ok to bring your sadness or even confusion to the Lord. He is our wonderful counselor. Most of all, He wants your trust that He lives in the timeline of eternity. One day, all His children will be healed, loved and satisfied. We will bask in His everlasting glory.

Praise be to the God of all glory and honor and power who knows all and makes all things work for those who love Him. Amen.

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Unswerving Faith

March 30, 2021September 1, 2021 krisshetter

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we 
profess, for he who promised is faithful.  
Hebrews 10:23

We sing songs about God being our Rock. We hear sermons about not living as though on shifting sand. And yet so often I find myself having days where my faith feels more like something I’ve placed in a box to access at a later date and time. I rush about “doing life,” not as a Christian but as a citizen of the world. I let go of my Rock and hold on to my to do list.

But what do we, as Christians, really want to accomplish in our lives? If it’s simply completing to-do lists every day, we miss out on some of the greatest human qualities God gifted us – the ability to dream and grow and have hope.

When I was in high school, I wanted to be an astronaut. I met with Air Force recruiters who were enthusiastic about me joining up. But when I sat down with my parents, they immediately discouraged me. They thought I couldn’t handle the rigor and discipline of training. I had two choices – to ignore them and join anyway or give up my dream. Had I a strong prayer life, I could’ve lifted up this quandary to God. And then be guided by Him. At each roadblock I could’ve held fast to the knowledge that He put me on that path. But I’m sorry to say, I neither prayed nor kept my dream alive.

This verse today harkens back to Abraham and Sarah’s unswerving faith in God. They went through terrible trials in which it would’ve been understandable had they given up on God’s promises. We see throughout the Old Testament when the Israelites did give up hope. They grumbled to Moses and set off in directions which brought death. And who can forget Lot’s wife – looking backward rather than forward to God’ promise?

How often do we pray for help from Jesus, knowing that He answers prayers, and then after things get a bit tough or we feel the wait is too long we give up on our hopes and dreams?

Blessed is the one who perseveres under 
trial because, having stood the test, 
that person will receive the crown of 
life that the Lord has promised to those 
who love him. 
James 1:12

God never breaks a promise. It’s always us. It’s us that needs to take our faith out of the box and place it at the top of our list each day. We need to hold fast to the knowledge that God is working for us and not against us. Whenever we are tempted to give up or get discouraged about our dreams, we need seize the promises that God has shown us.

Here’s a prayer from Sparkling Gems from the Greek that might help you, through faith, “hold unswervingly” to your dreams!

Lord, I am well aware that events will occur in life that will tempt me to release the dream You put in my heart. So right now, I ask You to fill me with the courage I need to refuse to let go of my dream. Even though my mind and the circumstances around me may send signals that the dream will never come to pass, I know that You are faithful to what you have promised. Help me wrap my arms of faith around your promises and never let go until I see them come into manifestation! I pray this in Jesus’ name!

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Our Inner Wizard Of Oz

January 13, 2021January 12, 2021 krisshetter

Be completely humble and gentle; 
be patient, bearing with one 
another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

A prayer to be a patient person

Faithful Father, I get so caught up in the busyness of life that I forget that my needs and desires are not the same as everyone else’s. When I’m running late, I want to yell at the drivers in front of me for not moving quickly enough. The slow grocery store bagger receives my glare when she doesn’t work at the same speed which I expect. Or when a friend doesn’t respond to my text as prompt as I need, I get frustrated. I’ve come to realize, LORD, through your holy Word that my impatience is an outgrowth of my lack of humility. Your admonishment to love one another needs to be on my lips when I feel that frustration and anger well up inside me. LORD, I know there is nothing more important to you than having your children express compassion and love for each other. Rest your loving hand on my shoulder as a reminder for when I forget this. Quell my impatient heart and mind and replace it with grace. In your Son’s name I pray, Amen.

When my children were younger, I found myself praying daily for patience. My youngest had the unique ability to press all my “hot buttons” at one time. But patience seemed to allude me. I heard a pastor during this time give the advice to stop beating our heads against the wall if something we prayed for wasn’t manifesting and to pray for something else. It made me realize that maybe God wasn’t answering my prayers because He had other work still to do in me.

Fast forward a few years and I’ve finally come to realize, through God’s nudging and conviction, that I first needed to figure out why I was always so impatient. And as the verse in Ephesians today tells us we need to be “completely humble and gentle.” It was a hard pill to swallow when I pulled back the curtain to see my inner Wizard of Oz working away trying to control everything. And when people aren’t acting as I want them to, I become angry and impatient.

Whoever is patient has great 
understanding, but one who is 
quick-tempered displays folly.
Proverbs 14:29

Great understanding. Understanding of our why’s – not just because we obviously have somewhere much more important to be than everyone else – but our “why” of why we think that. Why do we think our time and our talent or even treasure is so much higher on the scale of importance that we need to tap our feet in obvious disgust? Or we need to blare our horns and use our fingers in un-godly ways. If we are late, who’s fault really is it? If we are up against a deadline, who needs to truly take responsibility for that situation?

God’s Word is great at convicting, correcting and revealing our “why’s.” The next time you find that old foe called “impatience” welling up inside you stop and dig deeper. Pull back the curtain on your wizard and ask God to show you what’s causing so much distress. He will show you. And then He will test you, over and over.

If we all can learn, through a renewed humbleness, to be patient and bearing with one another in love just think how much kinder this world will feel. I’m asking God to start with me.

If you want this too, add the prayer to your daily prayer list and watch and see how God works in your life!