When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers the Way You Hoped { Guest Post }

Pink zinnia flower with the words, When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers the Way You Hoped

When God Doesn’t Answer Your Prayers the Way You Hoped

Welcome to today’s guest blogger, Crystal Storms. She’s a friend from my days in Florida. She’s a past guest here as well, and gosh, we love this girl. A hearty welcome to Crystal Storms.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when longing is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.

(Proverbs 13:12 WEB)

“It seems like God answers all your prayers.” I could see where her words were coming from. I had received some amazing blessings recently. But didn’t she also know my most requested prayer was left unanswered?

I’ve wanted a child for as long as I can remember. I turned coats into pretend babies I could snuggle. Browsed baby departments and imagined my life as a mother. Dreamt of the day when a baby would fill my womb.

As soon as Tim and I married, I prayed for God to bless our family with a child. Throughout the Bible I saw evidence that my prayers aligned with His will. His first command to mankind after blessing them was to “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it.” (Genesis 1:28b, WEB)

copies of free Christian printables available in the subscriber library - title at top
Free in the Subscriber Library.
Not a Subscriber? No problem.
Join us Here.

As the years passed, I read about heroes of the faith who received the blessing of children after long years of waiting.

  • Sarah and Abraham. Sarah conceived, and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him (Genesis 21:2, WEB).
  • Rebekah and Isaac. Isaac entreated Yahweh for his wife, because she was barren. Yahweh was entreated by him, and Rebekah his wife conceived (Genesis 25:21, WEB).
  • Hannah and Elkanah. When the time had come, Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, “Because I have asked him of Yahweh” (1 Samuel 1:20, WEB).

Their stories encouraged me to keep praying, keep believing, keep holding onto hope. I continued to pray in faith for nearly two decades.

But the promises I read didn’t match the reality I lived.

pink zinnia with Prov. 13:12 WEB in white lettering

Year after year … nothing. No two pink lines. Just more waiting.

The Bible says, hope deferred makes the heart sick. The word “sick” comes from the Hebrew word chalah which also translates as “grieved.

Year after year a part of me grieved the loss of what I hoped would be. The dreams unfulfilled. A baby to hold in my arms.

Every month brought a reminder my womb was still empty. Every mother’s day brought a reminder that no one called me mother. And every birthday reminded me my window for having children was closing.

It hurt too much.

When I faced a milestone birthday, I prayed a new prayer. I asked God to either fulfill my desire or to take away the desire.

God answered that second prayer. A part of me still wants a child but not in the same way as before. I’ve come to trust His will for me. To see that His ways, while indeed different than mine, are still good.

God is still writing my story.

I don’t know what this next chapter will bring. But though things haven’t turned out how I imagined, I’ve learned my hope is not deferred.

God is my hope. And in Him all my longings are fulfilled. @crystal_storms on KristiWoods.net Share on X

When the promises you read don’t match the reality you live, remember God is still writing your story too. And even when things don’t turn out how you hoped, know that your hope is not in your circumstances. Hope is found in Christ alone.

Bible study on fear cover--light shining on the words Fear What?

About Crystal Storms~

Crystal Storms headshot

With a heart to encourage, Crystal Storms helps women battle insecurity and find security in Christ. She is a Jesus girl, award-winning author, and artist. Married to her best friend for twenty-three years, Tim and Crystal live in Florida with their sweet Yorkie, Minnie. Learn more at CrystalStorms.me.

Linking with other Jesus lovers and writers here: #heartencouragementThursday
Subscriber Sign up with small samples of free Christian resources
Pictures of Christian faith t-shirts, scripture cards, and a tote bag
Shop Christian Products at the “Shop” tab

Do you struggle with rejection?

Removing the Sting of Rejection

Subscribe below to receive the 3-day devotional Removing the Sting of Rejection in your inbox for FREE. Use this devotional to build your spiritual muscles to counter the sting of rejection.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

I accept the Terms and Conditions and the Privacy Policy

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

20 Comments

    1. I thank God for the show of His strength and love through your story, Crystal. And I thank you for the transparency and beauty in light of a tough subject. You are a faithful servant. Love you, friend.

  1. So glad you shared this story, Crystal. I know so many will be touched and given hope that no matter how our stories are played out, God is holding the pen.

  2. What a beautiful testimony and story you share, Crystal. I think we all see areas of our lives where God’s promises do not seem to line up to the reality we are living. And it is hard. But He does transform us with grace.

  3. Dear Crystal and Kristi … thanks for sharing this tender story, the cry of your heart, the ways the Lord spoke to your pain. There’s so much we can’t wrap our arms around, literally and emotionally and spiritually. The impact of your hope will encourage others, Crystal …

    Bless you.

  4. Thank you, Crystal for sharing your story. I have dealt with delayed fertility for the last 15 years. So I definitely relate. And in the midst of my wait, the Lord led me to launch an infertility support ministry for women called Embrace Bravery. I lead a support group, write a blog on infertility, have a shop, speak at various events and I’m currently writing my first book. This journey was not at all what I expected for my life, but to be on the path He set for me and to be able to impact others is something I’ve come to cherish very much.

  5. Crystal, I appreciate your tender honesty. While I haven’t experienced this struggle myself, I know other women who have. Your post will certainly encourage them. Sharing on Pinterest and Twitter, friend.

  6. Crystal, Thanks for your vulnerability. You are encouraging others and myself. It is hard when we pray for good things and those prayers are not answered. Sometimes we have to pray for God to take that desire away. I have battled infertility and finally I had to realize it didn’t look like another child was going to happen. I had to quit waiting and hoping. And in the process praise God and realize his way is best. Hard lessons.

    1. It’s a hard journey, Theresa, when we think we’re praying for what’s best but Gods’ ways are different than our own. I’m thankful God has worked in both of our hearts. Praying He continues to reveal all we desire is found in Him.