Your will or God's, which do you trust more?

Most often, we have a habit of only calling to God in prayer when we "need" something from Him. Whether it's a sick loved one, a marriage in trouble, or a job loss, one of the first things we'll think of is to ask for prayers. And that's great! God welcomes any time we spend with Him, especially when we acknowledge we need His help.

But, what happens when the prayer goes unanswered for months (or even years) on end? Or worse, what happens if the prayer is answered in a way we don't desire? I think it's important to think about these things "before" we offer a prayer request.

We need to remember that God works in our lives for the long term including, and most importantly, our very salvation! If an answer to a prayer comes back less than satisfactory to us, trust that God has a reason for it. I'm not saying it may not be painful in the short run, but understand there's a greater purpose at play. God gives us what we "need" at certain points in our lives (2 Thessalonians 1:2), which often times can be much different than what we want.

You have no idea what God may have planned for you when a prayer comes back contrary to what you had originally hoped for. Trust Him. Keep your faith. Continue to pray earnestly for His guidance on this "new" path He has set you on.

God is not (nor ever was) out to harm you, but instead wants to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). And, considering He already knows your future, why would you want any other answer than the one "He" provides?