"As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked Him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.'"
John 9:1-3 (NIV)"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (NIV)When Prayers Go Unanswered
You prayed. You believed. You had faith. And the thing you asked for did not happen. The person you loved died. The healing did not come. The marriage was not restored. The job was not provided. The prayer was not answered the way you wanted.
And now you are sitting in the wreckage, wondering: was my faith not strong enough? Did I not pray enough? Is God even there?
Faith Is Not a Formula
Let me tell you something that might be hard to hear: sometimes God does not fix it. Sometimes the thing you pray for does not happen. And that does not mean you did something wrong. It does not mean your faith was too small. It does not mean God does not love you.
It means that this is a broken world. And in a broken world, bad things happen. People get sick. People die. Hearts break. And no amount of faith changes that.
God in the Middle of Pain
Jesus does not explain why bad things happen. He does not give a reason that satisfies our need for understanding. He simply says: this is not about sin. Sometimes bad things happen so that God can be glorified in the midst of them.
That is not a platitude. That is not "everything happens for a reason." That is simply saying: God can be present in the middle of your pain, even if He does not take the pain away.
Write to God
If you have been waiting for a miracle that did not come, write a honest letter to God. Tell Him exactly how you feel. Do not hold back. Then ask Him to help you keep walking anyway.
- What did I pray for that did not happen? How did that feel?
- What do I really want to say to God right now? Be honest.
- Can I believe God is present even when He does not fix it?
- Do I believe my faith was the problem when prayers were not answered?
- Can I accept that God can still be present even when He does not fix it?
- Am I willing to keep walking even when I do not understand?
Lord, I am honest with You. I prayed and You did not answer the way I wanted. I am angry and confused. But I choose to believe You are still here. Help me keep walking even when I do not understand. Help me trust Your presence even when I cannot see Your purpose. In Jesus' name, Amen.
God does not always fix what is broken. But He is always present in the brokenness. And sometimes, presence is enough.
With honesty and hope, Claire