Saturday 30 April 2022

Three Reasons We Can Praise God even when Our Prayers Go Unanswered


We are a people addicted to success.

No matter how we define or measure it, success affects every aspect of our lives - how we view ourselves and others, how we set and tackle life goals, and sadly, even how and when we praise God.

Think about it.

It’s been a long time and you’ve been holding on to hope that God will answer your prayer. You can even see it in your mind’s eye. The deliverance. The relief. The praise party that follows. Everyone will know what God has done for you.

But it hasn’t happened yet. And your praise? Well, it’s a bit lukewarm, to say the least.

Or maybe, it was a more urgent crisis, and God didn’t show up the way you had hoped He would. If you’re honest, you feel a little disappointed (or maybe a lot) and rejoicing in your trials feels like more than you can handle.

When we pause to examine our success/praise connection, we realize that all too often we wait for a ‘successful outcome’ to our prayers before we burst forth in God-honouring praise. In our waiting or our disappointment, we fail to praise God for His sustaining grace.

God’s Sustaining Grace

True, you haven’t gotten the answer you prayed for, but haven’t you been kept? Haven’t you been strengthened and comforted as you walked through the valley? Have you celebrated the glimmers of hope God gave you along the way?

Sometimes, our eyes are so fixed on the expected end, that we look right past all the blessings on the way.

Why not pause and praise God right now for the way He has held you up and kept you going, kept you hoping, even with bruised and battered knees.  

Yes! God’s presence with us in the dark valley of unanswered prayer is worthy of our wholehearted praise.

“Nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand.” ~ Psalm 73:23 

But that’s not all.

God’s Gift of Salvation

As members of God’s family, even if He never again does anything for us, He’s done enough. Our salvation, our welcome into His presence, our gift of life forever with Him should cause us to overflow with praise.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” ~ Ephesians 2:4-6

Ponder that for a moment and let that refreshing truth saturate your parched soul.

You were dead. Destined for wrath. But now you are alive, saved from God’s wrath, and seated with Christ in the heavenly places. And what’s more - He has given you everything you need for life and godliness. (2 Peter 1:3)

I think that’s worthy of our unending praise, don’t you?

“The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. ~ Psalm 118:14

God’s sustaining grace and His gift of salvation aren’t the only reasons we can praise Him in the valley. We can praise God because no matter what it looks like in our limited vision, He is still on His throne.



God’s Sovereignty

It happens to all of us. Every so often, we become overwhelmed by the mountain of prayer needs around us. But we don’t have to crumble in discouragement. Instead, we can choose to fix our gaze on God and His sovereignty.

“Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.” ~ Jeremiah 32:17

God is not delayed in answering you; He has a plan which no one can thwart (Job 42:2) and for those that love Him, He promises to work all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Even when we don’t understand His timing or His answer, we can trust His heart. And we can rest in knowing that this good God has supreme power and authority over everything.

“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” ~ Romans 11:33

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My friend, I don’t know what answer you’re waiting for right now or what disappointment you may be facing, but I do know that God is always worthy of our praise. He walks with us even through our troubles, He died that we may live, and with Him all things are possible. May He reign in our hearts as He reigns over ALL and may we bless Him with our unending praise.  

Grace and peace to you,

Carlie

25 comments:

  1. Such excellent encouragement! I know that God is good and worthy of my praise no matter how he answers my prayers, but I needed this reminder today. Thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Patti; it was a reminder we both needed. :)

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  2. Amen, Carlie!
    I heard this - Praise God for what you know. Praise God even more for what you don't know!
    We do not know why God answers prayers in His own way. But when we trust Him, we know how ever the answer comes, it will be the best!

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  3. Well said His presence, character and gift of salvation is more than enough to praise Him. Thank you

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    1. Thank you. Day and night may our praises rise to Him.

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  4. Oh yes, praise God for all He has done! Thank you for this invitation into praise!

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    1. Invitation to praise - I like that. Each day we are invited to praise our Creator and Sustainer for who He is and what He has done. Thanks for visiting today.

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  5. Thank you my beloved sister for this burst of encouragement today. I needed to read it even though I said it to myself this morning. This is confirmation from on high. Thank you my Lord.

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    1. You're welcome, my sister! I just love how God sends confirmation to us, don't you?

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  6. I love the points you make about Gods sustaining grace. Just the other day I stopped to thank God for how he is keeping me, blessing me, providing for me, protecting me, etc. I was in awe and I remain in awe of how good he is to me. It is a great practice to remember Gods sustaining grace. I would not be here without it.

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    1. Yes, indeed, Yvonne. Keeping my eyes fixed on God and His goodness, mercy, justice, faithfulness, omipotence, etc. etc. helps me to live amazed.

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  7. Thank you, Carlie. If our happiness and holiness depend on everything working out the way we hope and expect, we're making deposits to an account that will always be overdrawn.

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    1. Thanks, Michele; lots to ponder in your comment. Thanks for your sharing your insight.

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  8. Carlie, so beautifully spoken and encouraging.

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  9. What a beautiful reminder of who He is and all He's done for us Thank you.

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    1. Thanks, Lauren. A reminder for me to live amazed at who He is and all that He has done.

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  10. Carlie, this is beautifully encouraging. It made me think on all the times I was grateful God did not answer my prayer in the way I had hoped. His ways were so much better and wiser.

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    1. Thanks, Joanne, Sometimes, it takes me a while to appreciate the grace in unanswered prayer but God has been so patient with me, and I'm learning to praise Him through it all. He is definitely worthy of all our praise!

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  11. Such good thoughts, Carli. We often need a perspective change when it comes to prayer. There is so much we gain when God doesn't answer our prayers, perseverance, patience, vision, change of heart attitude...and the biggest thing? We get God himself.

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    1. God Himself! Isn't that amazing? Thanks for that beautiful insight.

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  12. Oh Carlie … I was nodding along with every sentence and verse. Waiting is so hard, but God knows exactly what we need, when we need it. And what a powerful point, that even if God never does another thing for us, He’s already done enough by giving us eternal life. Beautiful post! ~ from Lois Flowers

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    1. Thanks, Lois; I'm glad you can relate. Thanks for stopping by today.

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  13. Hi Carlie,
    What a beautiful, God-focused post. I love the idea that we are kept--for Him and for eternity.
    Thanks for linking up,
    Tammy

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