When God answers our prayers, how do we respond? A friend’s brother was diagnosed with cancer, and so his family began to pray fervently to the Lord about his situation. Before starting treatment, the doctor wanted to do further testing only to find out that there was not a trace of cancer in his body.
After learning of the test results, the family profusely thanked the Lord with great joy because they knew prayer made a difference. Instead of cancer treatment, he underwent prayer treatment. What a wonderful example of being thankful, and it is something I often fall short of.
Surprising Answers to Prayer
Sometimes, we don’t realize the Lord has answered our prayer because it does not unfold how we want. The Lord did answer our prayer, but we may not recognize it at the time. We can also praise the Lord because He said no to a prayer request. There is nothing wrong with giving the Lord delayed praise when we realize He answered differently.
We prayed my father would be healed of cancer, but the Lord chose to heal him by taking him to heaven. We often don’t understand the big picture the Lord is working out in our lives, but we simply must walk by faith. The Lord wants us to walk with a lamp, not a searchlight. Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. [1] A lamp guides us to depend on the Lord one step or one day at a time so we are not overwhelmed by God’s direction or circumstances.
God Answered Esther’s Prayer
Queen Esther knew she needed to go before King Xerxes to ask him to save her fellow Jews, but in doing so, she risked her life. She told her cousin Mordechai the danger, but he told her, Esther 4:14 If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” [2]
Esther requested Mordechai to engage fellow Jews in Susa to fast for three days, and she and her maids would do the same. Esther 5:1On the third day of the fast, Esther put on her royal robes and entered the inner court of the palace, just across from the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne, facing the entrance. 2 When he saw Queen Esther standing there in the inner court, he welcomed her and held out the gold scepter to her. So Esther approached and touched the end of the scepter.[3]
Esther’s heart must have been overjoyed at the answered prayer as she approached the king. Isaiah 25:1 O Lord, I will honor and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them. [4]
To learn more about when God answers our prayers, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/esthers-request
[1-4] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.