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)
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.
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 Click To Tweet
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.
About Crystal Storms~
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.
Thank you, Kristi, for hosting and sharing my story. Blessed by you, sweet friend. <3
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.
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.
Thank you, Michelle. Love that we can trust God to write our stories.
Crystal, thank you for sharing your heart, pain, and God’s desire for your life.
Thank you, Sandy, for your encouragement. <3
Thank you for sharing with us, Crystal! I’m on a long journey of prayer myself, and you encouraged my heart.
Believing with you, Joanna, that we will both see God’s goodness throughout our journeys. <3
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.
Amen to God’s transformation, Betsy. Thankful that by His grace we can see His goodness even when our reality doesn’t reflect the promises we read.
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.
So thankful to host Crystal and to hear how the Lord spoke in the midst of the pain. Linda, as always, you’re a blessing. Thanks for visiting.
Blessed by your encouragement, Linda. So thankful God comforts us in the middle of things we can’t wrap our minds or hearts around.
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.
Love the name of your ministry, Shannon. You are truly living out the truth of comforting others and speaking truth in the way that God has comforted you and directed your steps.
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.
Thank you, Sarah, for your kindness. Blessed by you, sweet friend. <3
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.
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.