Finding Gratitude in Unanswered Prayers: Trusting God Through Life’s Challenges
A Reflection on Gratitude and Faith
Since Father’s Day was a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been thinking about how much my daddy means to me, and how grateful I am for Joe and the moments we’ve shared with our children. But beyond the love of our earthly fathers, I’m reminded how thankful I am for our Heavenly Father and the many blessings He brings into our lives, even when they come in unexpected ways.
Seeing God as a Loving Father
When I was younger, I pictured God like a king on His throne, waiting for each of us to come before Him with our prayers, hoping for grace or mercy, and fearing what His judgment might be. Over time, my view has changed. Yes, we approach Him in prayer seeking grace and mercy. And yes, He hands out His judgments. But now I see Him not just as a ruler, but as my Father. I am His child, and He wants what’s best for me, even when it doesn’t look like what I had in mind.
The Gift of Unanswered Prayers
It’s not easy to be thankful for unanswered prayers. After all, we wouldn’t ask for something if we didn’t want it! I remember my “silly” prayers, wishing to win a game, hoping the boy I liked would notice me, praying for a job I thought was perfect. When those prayers weren’t answered the way I hoped, I was disappointed.
But with time, I’ve realized unanswered prayers can be blessings in disguise. The job you didn’t get might have led you down the wrong path, while a better opportunity waited just around the corner. The relationship you thought was right might have kept you from meeting the person who truly treats you well. Even losing a game can push you to work harder and grow stronger.
Finding Strength in Difficult Times
Being thankful during hardships is even harder. We’ve all heard the saying, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and while it’s probably true, the “getting stronger” part can feel unbearable. We question why we or our loved ones have to suffer. My heart still aches when I think about my aunt, who recently lost her husband. Yet, even in her grief, she was thankful for the years they had together. I strive to find that same strength, to look for blessings in the midst of pain.
Trusting God’s Greater Plan
The reality is, not everyone who is sick will be healed. Not every relationship will be saved. Not every prayer for a child will be answered with a baby. And often, we don’t understand why. But sometimes, God reveals His reasons to us later. Maybe the closed door leads to a better one. Maybe the heartbreak steers us toward a person or opportunity we never imagined. And maybe the struggle makes us stronger and more compassionate.
Choosing Faith Over Understanding
At night, when I lay my head down, I thank the Lord for both the joys and the difficulties He’s placed in my life. Sometimes, I pray through tears because I don’t understand. But I trust that He sees the whole picture, even when I can’t. And I believe some answers will only be revealed when I finally stand before Him.
Bible Verses to Remind You of God’s Faithfulness
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NIV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
A Note of Gratitude
Today, I want to thank the Lord for always being there for me, even when I fall short. If you’re reading this and wondering “why,” I hope my words bring you comfort and remind you that God’s love is constant, even when life doesn’t go according to plan.
Have a blessed day with the ones you love.
P.S. In case you’re curious, if God had answered all my teenage prayers, I’d probably be Mrs. David Cassidy by now!
Enjoy a little Garth Brooks today, because sometimes unanswered prayers really are a gift.
To GOD Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Let’s End With A Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for loving me as Your child and for knowing what is truly best for my life. Help me to trust You, even when my prayers seem unanswered and my path feels unclear. Give me peace in times of disappointment and strength during hardships. Remind me that Your plans are always good, even when I don’t understand. Help me to grow in faith and always look to You for hope.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Thank you for sharing about gratitude. Inspirational!
Thank you Tania. I need these reminders often.
Thank you, Tania. Such a good reminder to trust the Lord in all things.
Thankful I can rest in my Heavenly Father on those stormy nights & the way He protects us.
God Bless You, Tania!
Thank you for being Gods hands and feet, Tania. Clothing us on the outside and more importantly filling us with hope. U truly are using the gifts God has given u. One thing I know for sure” God provides what we Need not necessarily a Want.
At the end of the day I sleep well because I know ultimately my Father in heaven is in Control. He’s there for u and me 24/7. and He loves you and me unconditionally.
❤️
today I needed the reminder when I falter. God always knows best what direction I should go. I need to listen. thank you 😊
Nice post and reminder and one I will probably save to read again.
As always – very wise words
Amen thank you so much I appreciate you 🙏
Love this lesson today! Thanks, Tania.
This was beautifully written and just the encouragement that so many of us are in need of on this tragic day.
Loved this, especially as I read it in the Texas Hill Country amidst all the flooding. Love your Sunday posts and I loved David Cassidy too! 😆😉
Thank you for the reminder. I was just watching the devastating news out of Texas & pray for all the families.
Yes! Thank you for this today, Tania. All day I’ve been reminding myself to read your Sunday post,.and I am glad.
Thank you for this message. I needed it today.
David Cassidy or Donny Osmond. I was torn between the two.
Thank you for your devotional today. I needed that reminder.
Thank you for the devotion today. Although we can’t see the future, the past reminds us of God’s goodness. Through answered prayers and unanswered prayers God knows what is best for us. I always look forward to your Sunday post.
Thank you Tania. I have a big prayer on my heart for many years. In my soul I know the Lord knows what is best. Someday he will answer it. Maybe not as I imagined. When you look back, you see the works of his hands. He knows what is best. Otherwise I would have been Mrs Cassidy too. 🤭
oh my goodness Tania! I have those verses on 3×5 cards on my bathroom mirror! it helps to remind me, whether I’m in physical or emotional pain or both!
I have a very good friend who lost her husband 12 years ago to a sudden heart attack while coaching his daughter’s soccer game. He passed right in front of his daughter. We have had many discussions about why but also that if he was given a chance to come back, he would not want to, because it is infinitely better where he reigns with his Father in heaven. As for knowing the whys later, personally, I don’t think we are going to care because we will be with our Father! One of the consultations for her as well, is the last face he saw before passing was his daughter. His daughter reported that he was smiling.
As many of us have lived more life than what we have ahead of us, the promises of our Heavenly Father become more and more real. May he bless you and your family in trials and hardships and in times of joy!
in Him,
Carolyn
Great post Tania. When I was younger I had a boyfriend that ended up being very ill. I was pre engaged to him since we both were in school. His Birthday was 12/2. He never got any better his Mother encouraged me to move on 😢so I did. I ended up marrying a man I had a crush on when I was a freshman and he was a senior. His dob is 12/2. God knew that he was planning to take Danny home and replaced him with my Robert. He didn’t answer our prayers for the healing of Danny but he suffered and when he passed I knew he was at peace. I know God sent Bob my way because I prayed for a Loving Christian man. ❤️ it’s funny heard that song the other day.
Thank you for the precious thoughts of our relationship with our heavenly Father.
Blessings always
I’m trusting Jesus through these difficult times. He is my Hope!
I am also thankful for unanswered prayers! He knows what’s best and he wants the best for us. Great lesson today!
I needed this today as my heart is heavy with all the loss and devastation in my beautiful Texas. I pray for his comfort for all those suffering.
Thank you for your Sunday devotion. I always enjoy your words of wisdom. God is the supreme power and we need to trust in him even when we question. Thank you again.
Thank you Tania for the reminder. I lost my husband almost two years ago and sometimes the days can be overwhelming but like you said about your aunt,I’m thankful for the 49 years that we had and that in the illness he gave his heart and life to God!🎉🎉🎉 He is healed,in heaven and I will see him again one day!!!!!
By the way,I too thought that DC was the cutest thing on two legs AND he could sing! 😂😂😂😂😂
Thank you for this devotion today. These reminders help guide me through my days. And btw, I would have been Mrs. Paul McCartney! 😍
This is certainly appropriate for today with the disaster in Texas. But then it is appropriate for every day. Amen. Thank you for sharing.
What a beautiful message! It is hard at times to accept the unanswered prayers, but, as you stated, He knows what’s best for us. Trusting Him at all times!
I always enjoy your thoughtful and beautiful devotions.
Thank you and have a great week!
Thank you so much for these words of encouragement and prayers!
Thanks for the wise words today! Love your Sunday posts!
Thanks for this. It’s what I needed to hear today.
PS: I’m reading the book you recommended last week. It’s a wonderful read! I am really enjoying it. It’s amazing to read how so many things are foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Thank you for this as well.
Thank you and thanks to our Heavenly Father for being always available to us.
Amen Tania-that was beautiful & so true
Thank you
Your thoughts and prayer were right on point today. Thank you and thanks to our Heavenly Father for being always available to us.
Great! Your reminder’s of faith really help me . Thank you
Tania, I look forward to your Sunday posts and inspirations. I’m waiting for an answer to my prayer. You help me realize
that no answer means its for the best and a different path may come along. Thanks for your uplifting message.
The ☺️ emoji is in Carol Guttiez’s comment
Amen. Once again your reflections remind me to trust, pray and hope for God’s grace in my life challenges. Thank you.
Amen, Amen, and Amen!!! Happy Sunday🙏❤🙏
Tania,
Thank you for this wonderful devotion.
I needed this message today Thank you we lost our son on July 2nd in 2007 to cancer so kind of get sad every year that goes by he was 30 years old so this was what I needed
Sherry, that is every parents nightmare. I’m so sorry for your pain.
I truly believe everything happens for a reason. We may not see God’s plan for us at the time, but there IS a plan! Love your message & scriptures today!
(PS, I would have been Mrs Donny Osmond! 😉)
I just joined ur blog, and I am impressed, especially with what u wrote today. Thank you for that blessing!
Cathy
Amen
I just received some bad news and this post is perfect timing. God knew I would wake up to that news this morning and that I would have your post to. My Bible reading was Psalm 31….a plea for protection. God is so good!!!!!
I’m sorry you had to wake up to bad news.
Tania,
I loved this devotion today! It was a great way to start my day.
I would have been Mrs. Donny Osmond, LOL
Have a blessed day and week,
Karen
Amen! I sang Mick Jagger to my kids always as kids: ”You can’t always get what you want!” Thank you, Jesus, for always giving us what we truly need!
That is a song that Joe and I sing to each other. Lol!
Good Message and one I need reminder of every day.
Love this! So true!
Thank you so much this really hit home today.
So very true.. thank you for your Sunday thoughts.
Tania, you are awesome!
Beautiful! Thank you so much for your Sunday devotionals.
Beautiful thoughts to start this day of communal worship. Thank you.
God is good all the time……and all the time God is good! Thank you for this Sunday morning post.
Dear Tania, Thank you for the encouraging words today.I look forward to post’s everyday. Your Sunday posts are so meaningful. Cindy
Love this post. The older I get, the more I realize that I need to trust our Lord in good times and bad times. He is always there for me and that brings me peace even during difficult times.
Thank you, Tania. What a beautiful post, which I am sure resonates with so many people this morning. As much as I love your daily posts, Sunday’s are my favorites. You have a gift with words. 😊🙏
My hope is in Jesus❤️ always
My hope is in Jesus❤️
Wonderful way to start my day. Thanks for the reminder!
So thought provoking and true. I can’t believe think of times when I’ve had unanswered prayers only to have a better path shown to me. Thank you for today’s devotion
That’s how it has been for me, too.
Amen!
You are a blessing.
Thank you.
Tania, I enjoy your posts and I especially enjoy the beautiful prayers. I look forward each Sunday to reading your blog. It uplifts me.
Thank you!😊
Thanks, Carol. That makes me feel so honored.
A timely post while we pray for the missing children in Texas.
Good morning Tania, what a great devotional post! We can be so shortsighted, not understanding that a “no” or a “redirect” from God actually can become an open door to something far more important for us spiritually. And sometimes that means we go through great difficulties, as painful as they are. Not many of us enjoy that – myself included – but you’re right, we have to learn to trust the Lord through it all. I admit, I have a lot of unanswered “why” questions, but slowly have realized that it is best perhaps that I don’t know the answers right now. Have a blessed Sunday! PS – I am sure Joe is very happy God did not answer your prayer and make you Mrs. David Cassidy!!! 🙂
Thank you for sharing. I always enjoy the scripture you share. A lot of the times what we want and what’s best for us aren’t the same things 🙂
Great message Tania! He is perfect in all His ways and when things don’t make sense to me that is one of my go to scriptures Isaiah 55:8-9
🙏💕
I loved your devotion today. It’s something we all need to be reminded of! Thank you.
I’ve learned over the years that God answers every prayer. He either says yes, no, or wait……and He answers every prayer perfectly. Just because it’s not the way we want it answered, doesn’t mean it wasn’t answered, it just wasn’t our way.
Have a blessed day
Thank you for this excellent reminder!!
Good post
Tania, a very thoughtful and insightful post today. Thank you for that:)