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3 Ways to Press Through Unanswered Prayer - Encouragement for Today - October 18, 2018
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Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. Encouragement for Today --------------------------
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Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths.
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Encouragement for Today
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[Lysa TerKeurst]
October 18, 2018
3 Ways to Press Through Unanswered Prayer
[LYSA TERKEURST](
âYou intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.â [Genesis 50:20]( (NIV)
I opened the anonymous letter, and my heart sank. It was from another mom who wanted to make sure I had a list of all the ways one of my daughters was falling short. There in black and white, she listed my daughterâs mistakes, shortcomings and frailties.
And then just to make sure I took her nameless letter seriously, she informed me sheâd be sending a copy to my pastor.
My initial reaction was to figure out who sent this so I could assure her we were working diligently to help our daughter course-correct.
But as I reread the letter, I discerned it wasnât sent from a place of love for my family nor a heart that wanted to help.
From the language she used and the fact that there wasnât a way to contact her, it was obvious she didnât send it because she wanted the best for my daughter.
I sat on the edge of my bed and cried.
Itâs so hard to have someone attack you in an area thatâs already rubbed raw with hardship. Her letter was like a bullet straight to my heart.
However, it was also a wake-up call to get more intentional in praying for my daughter. I thought about her struggles a lot. I talked about her struggles. I worried about her struggles.
But thinking about, talking about and worrying about something is not the same as praying about it.
I clung to the truth in our key verse, [Genesis 50:20]( and determined to turn this letter that felt like a bullet into a blessing by using it as a catalyst to ramp up my prayer life.
Through my tears, I cried out to the Lord:Â âI will not sacrifice Your grace for my child on the altar of peopleâs opinions. Of course I want my daughter to walk the straight and narrow path of great choices. But I trust You, Lord, to write her testimony. My main goal for her is not behavior modification but total heart-transformation. I want her to want You, Lord, and Your best for her life. Give me the courage to not just pray about my daughter, but to pray her all the way through this.â
Praying her through the ups and downs wasnât easy. There were days I wondered if God even heard my prayers.
Itâs tough to pray someone all the way through a messy, hard, complicated situation and not see answers. Maybe youâve been there. Maybe youâre there now.
Can I speak hope into your heart with three ways to press through unanswered prayers?
1. Know with confidence God hears your prayers.
First [John 5:14]( reminds us, âThis is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears usâ (NIV).
2. Trust that prayer makes a difference, even when you donât see the difference.
It may take a while for you to see God answer your prayers. But donât miss an âin the meantime answerâ you can receive right away. [Philippians 4:6-7]( reminds us of the immediate answer to every prayer: âDo not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesusâ (NIV, emphasis added).
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