You might be a little confused by the title of this article, “The Insecurity of Answered Prayers.” Let me explain. I am going to get a little personal here sisters, so bear with me. Lately I have been praying for my future husband; I have been praying for wisdom and maturity in this time of waiting. In addition, I have been praying that God’s will be done in my life, for I know that His ways are much… MUCH higher than my ways.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. -Isaiah 55:9 

As young men walk into my life that I begin to have interest in, I try to pray for them. I pray that they are seeking God, and that they are having joyful days. As an imperfect human, sometimes I get my hopes up, and in many cases I have my heart broken a bit whenever things do not work out. Many times, I let this add to my insecurity. I let my mind go crazy, running down paths of conclusions I have jumped to, trying to answer the questions, “What is wrong with them? and “What is wrong with me?”

Yet, I forget what Jesus taught in Matthew 7:7,8…

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 

Ladies, sometimes the short-lived pain of the present is an answered prayer! Yes, and that little bit of pain might be saving us from a multitude of pain in the future.

The next time you go through an “almost, maybe” situation in this time of waiting, instead of looking for what is wrong with you, let your mind focus on the goodness of the Father. He might be closing doors for you now, in order to prepare you for the even greater doors He will open for you in the future. Instead of chasing reasons for rejection, or motives for moving on, let us metaphorically live a life of chasing after the garment of Jesus. (Matthew 9:20-22, Luke 8:40-48)

And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” But Jesus turning and seeing her said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well.  -Matthew 9:20-22 

Whenever we get caught up in the unknowns of our futures, let us remember to trust in Him who knows the end from the beginning.

Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure…  -Isaiah 46:9,10 

This thought also applies to every other situation and desire of our hearts. If you are praying for opportunities to help within Christ’s church, be ready for more jobs to be beautifully added to your plate, if you are praying for pure friendships, be ready for some friendships to cease, if you are praying to follow Jesus fully, be ready to be hated by the world (John 15:19), and if you are praying for a change in heart and mind, prepare to be lovingly corrected by the Father. (Prov. 3:12).

If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. -John 15:19 

For whom the Lord loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.  -Proverbs 3:12 

In the process of waiting for the blooms we have prayed for, we can bask in the rain that our Father has sent to ready us (and even see the periodic rainbow!) Do not fear the rain sister; this metaphoric showering cleanses and aids in our growth. What a loving and righteous Father we have!

by Payton Williams