Thankful For His Will

I recently wrote about being thankful in difficult circumstances, and this post is somewhat of an extension of that. What should we do if we have prayed about something and God has answered with a “no” or “not yet?” Are we able to be grateful when we have not received the answer we want?

It is easy to feel grateful to God when we pray for something and He answers the prayer as we had hoped. But sometimes when our prayers are not answered with the outcomes or timing we desire, this may lead to a feeling of ungratefulness. To help with this topic, there are some things to consider.

First, we should remember that it is most important to pray for God’s will in each circumstance. 1 John 5:14 assures us, “And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” It is wonderful to share what is on your heart and what you desire with God; He will always listen to you when you talk to Him. However, we should turn our desires over to God and remember that we pray these things as He wills it, and as these items align with His will. And what we want may not be what He wills, so we need to prepare ourselves to accept that and be grateful for His will, whatever it may be. Additionally, when we pray, we cannot beg, bargain, manipulate, or try to control our way into our desires. Whatever we are asking, it truly is in His hands, and we need to remember that He really is in charge.

We should also remember that God’s will is for good.

“And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28

God is sovereign and all-knowing. He wastes nothing, and His plans are good, even when it is difficult to see in the moment. God’s perspective includes a big picture view that we are completely unable to see. We need to trust in His perspective, which is entirely wise, rich in knowledge, and inerrant. All things are ultimately for good and for His glory. This is clarified in Romans 11:33-36:

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to Him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

When we view answered prayer as God’s will for good and as part of a larger picture, we can look back at times when prayers were not answered in our favor and be grateful for the outcome. As an example of this, I can think about times when there were relationships with men that I wanted to pursue when I was lonely. I prayed about them and felt disappointment when my prayers were not answered positively. There were even times I had the audacity to feel mad, like a petulant toddler, about not getting what I wanted, what was my will, not God’s. Even though I had to navigate the discouragement in each of these situations, looking back I am thankful. The men I was interested in were not good for me, and the relationships would have ended disastrously. I can see that now, even though I could not in the moment. Once I spent time in prayer and submitted my desire to God, telling Him earnestly that I was content with whatever He willed, even if it was remaining single, He opened the doorway to meeting my husband, a godly man who is good for me, and with whom I have a healthy, Christ-focused relationship. And I am beyond thankful for the relationship He brought me instead of the previous ones I had wanted.

It may not be that easily understood. It may take a long time for us to be able to consider and understand the reason why our prayers were not answered in the way we wanted. In fact, we may never know why a prayer was not answered on this side of eternity, but we can have confidence that if it was not answered to our desires, that God has a good plan regardless. And we can thank God for His ways and His plans which are perfect.

Additionally, we might incorrectly assume that God is not answering a prayer in our favor simply because it does not happen in the timing we expect or want. What we might view as a prayer not answered to our liking might actually be God planning to answer the prayer as desired later. We should exercise patience in considering God’s timing and thank Him that all things occur not only as He wills but within His time.

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.”  Micah 7:7

Even when it is difficult, we can thank God for all answered prayers, as God never leaves a prayer unanswered. So, when He says, “yes,” we can thank Him for answering our prayers and that our desires were within His will. When He says, “no,” we can thank him for having a plan that we cannot fathom or understand but that He means for good and His glory. And when He says, “not yet,” we can thank Him for His perfect timing.

Jeanne-Marie Witmer

Jeanne-Marie Witmer, Daughter of the King, is a wife and a mother to a teenage son. She wants to encourage women to have meaningful relationships by first having a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Jeanne-Marie understands the transformative work of Christ when we repent and submit to Him so that He can work in our lives. She would like to share what she's learned to help other women find hope and healing in Christ, and she prays that her written words glorify God. When not busy homeschooling, spending time with family and friends, or writing; Jeanne-Marie enjoys photography and many crafts and hobbies.