Have you ever prayed for a miracle? Why didn’t it happen? One of my greatest disappointments with God has come from unanswered prayer. When I pray, I expect God to respond. I think that’s what faith in God does. Yet, I’ve prayed for a sick baby in a jungle village in Peru to be healed, thinking of all the amazing possibilities such a great demonstration of God’s power would accomplish. The baby remained sick. Nothing happened. Countless other times, I’ve sought God for miracles without any visible result. Is something wrong with me? Am I missing a special formula? Do I lack faith? Is there sin in my life preventing my prayer from being heard? What is it?

While libraries are filled with writings on these and other aspects of prayer, let me simply offer a response God has put in my heart, which I hope will be helpful.

We are often unaware of the reasons God allows and causes pain and suffering. The Bible seems to focus more upon our response to the pain than understanding its cause or claiming a guaranteed deliverance from it. I’m not suggesting we sit around and thank God for our mental, emotional and physical anguish, as if we could fake Him out. We hate disease and disaster. They don’t seem fair. We want God to heal our bodies, mend broken relationships, and free us from all the baggage we carry around. Like the widow in Luke 18:1-8, we are encouraged by Jesus to pray and not give up; for we show God our seriousness by our persistence. And He is often moved by His mercy to act accordingly. However, we must always keep in mind our troubles cause us to grow in depth of faith as children of God when we respond in trust, holding firm to God’s goodness in the midst of excruciating pain. Read II Corinthians 4:8-18. There the Apostle Paul reminds us “our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” Why, therefore, would we want to take away such a critical component of our growth?! In prison from Philippi Paul reminds us, “Now I want you to know brothers and sisters that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel….and it has been granted to you, on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him.” When we cling to Christ in our suffering, we experience and display the value and worth of Christ in a way that would otherwise be impossible to know or show.

For this reasons we practice fervent prayer, targeting root issues when we know what they are. We expect God to respond to our fervent prayers with healing and liberation for our joy and His glory. And we also practice humble prayer, considering our limited knowledge and God’s good use of pain in our lives and the lives of those around us. Therefore, you will often hear us pray, “Your will be done, oh God” as a reminder to ourselves and all who hear that we want God to heal, but we know His plans often allow and cause us suffering, which are disguised graces for us, achieving eternal glory! “Your will be done” is not a copout, but a deep confession of faith, “God you know best! Have your way!”

Joel Thurston