How to Hold On to Hope When God Hasn’t Answered Your Prayers

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Do you have something you’ve lifted to God for what seems like forever?

You have prayed and prayed and waited and waited . . . but God still hasn’t answered your prayer.

Although the desire of your heart is Godly, you’re starting to wonder if it will ever happen. You’re starting to lose hope as you lift up the words of the Psalmist…

I cry out to God; yes, I shout.
    Oh, that God would listen to me!
I think of God, and I moan,
    overwhelmed with longing for his help. 

Psalm 77:1,3

Now, pause for a minute and imagine yourself waiting with the Jewish people. God promised the Savior to Adam and Eve. His Covenant with Abraham had promised the Messiah would come . . . but that was more than 2000 years before Jesus was born.

As Paul began the second half of his letter to the Galatians, he wrote a simple, yet profound, truth…

But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.

Galatians 4:4–5

For literally hundreds of years, the Jews prayed for the Messiah to come . . . and they waited! Many of them were losing hope.

Then…

“When the right time came!“

As hard as waiting can be, it is often one of the things He uses to grow our faith.

However, if you’re like me, you’re not very good at waiting and you would definitely prefer it if He would choose some other way to help you increase your faith. However, rather than giving in to frustration, discouragement, and doubt . . . you and I can consciously choose to remain hopeful, entrusting our lives to the One who knows precisely what is best for us—not only the timing of His answer but the response and outcome as well.

When God hasn’t answered your prayers, remember “when the time was right”, the Messiah, Jesus, not only bought our freedom but He made a way for us to be a full member of God’s own family!

A Prayer for Hope When God Hasn’t Answered Your Prayers

Father, You know the prayers of my heart. You know my deepest desires. I have come to You again and again but You still haven’t answered. And I’ll admit, it is hard not to feel discouraged. It’s hard not to lose hope. But when I remember Your promises. When I remember all You have done for me in the past . . . hope begins to rise again.

Your Word says that You have set eternity in our hearts. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) It reminds me that Your ways are not the same as mine. (Isaiah 55:8) You know the end from the beginning. (Isaiah 46:10) And for You, one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. (2 Peter 3:8)

By Your grace and with Your help, I will pray with the Psalmist, “I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word.” (Psalm 130:5) Lord, You are my hope! I believe You know what is best. Even when it is hard for me to wait, I will trust in You. Lord, I believe! Please help me overcome doubt and discouragement when You ask me to wait on Your perfect timing. Strengthen me. Guide me. Fill me with hope and grant me the peace that is beyond understanding. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

When doubt creeps in. When God hasn’t answered your prayer and you are overwhelmed by the wait . . . cling to His promises: Even in times of trouble, we have a joyful confidence, knowing that our pressures will develop in us patient endurance. And patient endurance will refine our character, and proven character leads us back to hope. And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy, because we can now experience the endless love of God cascading into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who lives in us!

Romans 5:3–5 (TPT)

Recently, a reader contacted me about my post 5 Verses to Pray When You Need God to Do the Impossible. She was hoping for a positive update on my statement, “I have a few big prayers that I continue to pray even though nothing seems to change.”

I had to tell her that I am continuing to pray and wait.

But God . . . has graciously answered so many other prayers in the meantime. He has kept so many promises and He has given me joyful confidence, patient endurance, and hope!

So, I will remember that even when God hasn’t answered my specific prayer yet . . . He is always at work in my life. I can trust His will and His perfect timing.

And I promise you . . . it is a truth that you can trust in as well.

On today’s note write:

Even when God hasn’t answered my prayer yet – I can trust His timing and His will.

May God bless you today and you lift your prayers and trust His will and timing.

Click here to read the rest of Galatians 4.

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