Dealing with Unanswered Prayer

Here are the thoughts that came to me this morning as I was thinking about my previous posting: There are a lot of "words of wisdom" that can be given during a time of grief and unanswered prayer. One can find intellectual explanations and theological reasons to answer the questions of why. However, during this time, that doesn't really seem to work. All the answers just sound "pat". No matter how true or valid they are, it is just too hard for the hurting soul to wrap his spiritual arms around them. And the grieving heart that cries out "why" will find it difficult to hear the answer. The pain muffles the hearing of the response.

There is a time for the such discussion. However, it seems to me that the time of grief needs to be lived more at an emotional level rather than an intellectual one. The need for emotional comfort calls out to be met first and then the need for answers. When a person is physically injured, there are answers as to the nature of the injury that can be described in great physiological and biological detail, but the immediate need is for healing over scientific explanation.

I believe there is purpose and meaning in our suffering, but trying to explain or understand that in the midst of it all is baffling. There is the danger of thinking of God as one who doles out pain and grief in an unattached and uncaring manner. Instead, God needs to be seen and experienced during this time as one who is "close to the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3). One who "does not willingly bring grief" (Lamentations 3:33) and "in all their distress he too was distressed" (Isaiah 63:9). For he truly is "the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in our troubles" (2 Corinthianss 1:3-4).

Applying this to myself concerning my previous posting, I need the reaffirming of God's love and presence in my own heart as I deal with unanswered prayers for others. Most importantly, I pray for the compassion and comfort of the Father upon those dear families who have lost precious little ones. May healing and love flow into their lives in abundance and may they, in time, find what answers can be found in this life.

John