This one is from our preacher in Hilton Head.

 

 

The simple version is that we call it "unanswered prayer" because we didn't get the answer we asked for. God answers prayer in one of three ways: yes, no, and wait. But God does not always answer the way we want Him to.

 

For example: the apostle Paul mentions that he had a "thorn in the flesh." He prayed three times that God would take it away, but God did not.

 

Jesus asked that "this cup" be taken from Him but it was not.

 

God answered their prayers but the answer was "no."

 

Imagine if God healed everyone that was prayed for, no one would ever die. I can't explain why sometimes he extends a persons life and sometimes he does not. But that's because I tend to think in terms of absolutes. Who can say if the people we have been praying for would have died much sooner had we not prayed for them.

 

We don't have to understand the "whys" of God choices in order to have confidence in Him. He is honest with us. He has never promised us eternal life here on earth.

 

God understands things that we cannot comprehend and so even when we don't like it, even when we don't get it, we know that He knows best. And sometimes it is best to tell us "no."