Is there such a thing as unanswered prayer? While I listened teary eyed to the testimony of one lady who thanked God for delivering her from cancer, the face I saw was that of another cancer patient I recently visited. Their disease causes them unbearable pain despite our frequent and intentional prayers for relief and healing. The words in Isaiah assure us God hears and answers our prayers, even responding before we finish speaking (Is 65:24). If we have a Heavenly Father who is perfect love He must exceed the goodness of our earthly parents. He does not ignore or abandon His children. So I don’t believe in unheard or unanswered prayers. The real question is why does God say “no” or “not yet”. Our faith is stretched when we don’t have the answers and perhaps that is part of an incognito blessing, recognizing our need for trust, surrender and patience. Which is the greater miracle, to move a mountain or to move the human heart? In 1 Kings 18 we read about the prophet Elijah who heard from God the period of drought and famine was about to end. With a single prayer God responds to Elijah’s request sending fire that entirely consumes a waterlogged altar. But the rain clouds don’t appear until Elijah prayed seven times. Ellen White offers insight to God’s delay and Elijah’s persistence in the book ‘Our Father Cares’. “The prophet did not give up in discouragement. He kept reviewing his life, to see where had failed to honor God…As he searched his heart…it seemed to him that he was nothing, and that God was everything; and when he reached the point of renouncing self while he clung to the Savior as his only strength and righteousness, the answer came.” Elijah was in danger of assuming God’s miracles had something to do with him. So God put His planned promise on hold while He waited on Elijah’s humbled heart. God’s ears are not closed to our petitions, but His response may be delayed so as not to jeopardize eternal and spiritual blessings. What careful love!
