What happens when we pray for something big, but God doesn’t give the answer we want?
Maybe He does the exact opposite. Maybe He seems silent.
One of my top requests this month has been top on my list for years now. I am asking God for complete, absolute healing from my chronic illness of rheumatoid arthritis. He has provided seasons of healing in my past, but my struggle has been intense for several years.
I pray. I ask. I cry out in desperation.
Yet He seems silent.
The despair lurks near me. The fatigue overwhelms me. The pain continues.
In the midst of unanswered prayers, I have learned to ask myself an essential question:
Will I believe that God is still my Healer, even when healing is not my current reality?
My homeschool prayers are no different. The same issues continue to creep into my prayers year after year. God has worked much transformation in our homeschool over the past nine years. But in a few details, He still remains silent. As high school graduation draws nearer each year, I could doubt God is who He says He is for my child.
It is a new season for belief, a time to ask a new question:
Will I believe God is who He says He is for my child, even when their current reality taunts otherwise?
Prayer is not a Santa Claus list (as I recently told my 8 year old who asks God for new Lego sets). A focused season of prayer is not about getting what I want. It is about getting closer to Jesus, seeking to know Him better, learning to trust Him more.
But there is a difficult truth to growing closer to God.
- If I am going to know God as my Healer, then I need a sickness to be healed.
- If I am going to know God as my Provider, then I must have a need to be provided.
- If I am going to know God as my Comforter, then I need a hurt to be comforted.
That difficult truth stands for our children too.
Are you willing to make a difficult choice?
Choose now – in the midst of the struggle – to believe God is who His Word claims He is.
“For I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
II Timothy 1:12 (NASB)
We can entrust our cares, burdens, concerns (and especially our children!) to Him because He is able. The more we know Him, the more convinced we will become.
Let’s believe that God is who He says He is, even when we don’t get what we want.
Let’s believe that His promises are true, even when we don’t see the reality of them.
Let’s keep on praying, even when we feel like giving up.
Today’s Heart Challenge:
Cling to God’s Name
Choose one Name of God. God has many names in Scripture. Which of these aspects of Himself do you want Him to reveal to you? Write it down. Ask Him to reveal Himself, to convince you, to draw you close.
While you’re talking to Him, ask Him again about those requests from yesterday.
Today’s Homeschool Prayer:
Family Meals & Meal Planning
No, this isn’t technically part of school, but we know homeschooling encompasses much more than just academics. Homeschool moms are chef as well as teacher (as well as many other roles). And it’s more involved than lunch in the school cafeteria. Meal plans, grocery shopping, food preparation, and your actual time around the table (or standing at the counter!). When out of order, family meals can definitely lead our hearts away from rest.
Seek Jesus first. He can give rest to your heart in the midst.
Write out your prayer as you evaluate, surrender and receive rest for your family meals and planning.
EVALUATE
- Ask yourself if this area of your homeschool life is currently restful.
- Ask God to reveal any cues of unrest in your heart.
SURRENDER
- Surrender your efforts to fix the problem.
- Surrender your expectation of the outcome.
RECEIVE
- Ask God to give you grace and rest in the midst of your current struggle.
- Ask Him to give you guidance for ONE THING you can do to cultivate rest in this area.
Keep seeking Jesus first!
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