I have been going through a difficult season with regards to my health, and this season has lasted a very long time. I am finally feeling like I am on the upswing; but for a while there, I just felt like I would never feel well again. It felt as if once God healed me from 1 health problem, 2 new health issues would crop up to take their place. I’ve been praying about my health for what seems like a very long time. Praying and trying to keep the faith. Praying and trying to accept whatever God’s answer is to my prayers.

Not long ago, I felt like giving up on praying for healing of the health problems that I have struggled with on and off for the last 4 years. It seemed like I would pray, have faith, and nothing would happen. It was discouraging and disheartening, BUT then I remembered a time in my past when he healed me of other symptoms. When I had migraines and muscle spasms every day, I thought I would never get better; but God has taken those symptoms away. God answered those prayers; maybe not as quickly as I wanted, but he did answer them.

Then I thought about other answered prayers: becoming a counselor, learning how to drive after years of trying, even being able to pick up and move to where I am now are all examples of answered prayers. God is the source of all that is good in my life. When I look back and reflect on all that I’ve been through and all of the prayers that God has answered, I feel like I have to keep trying. I have to keep praying and believing. There’s a reason the Bible says to “be unceasing and persistent in prayer” (1 Thessalonians 5:17 AMP). I personally think it’s because we do want to give up sometimes when our prayers are not answered quickly and in the way we want them to be.

A hard truth to accept is that every prayer is not answered with a yes. I am sure that everything I pray for may not be what I need. Sometimes I pray for work to be calmer, and it is the opposite; and I still make it through. I survive, and God is with me whether it’s crazy or calm. There are verses in the Bible that I have to bring to mind to remind myself that God gives us what we ask for when what we ask for is His will. The verses are 1 John 15:14-15. When I read these verses, I am also reminded that I don’t really want God to give me “yes” answers to “no” prayers. I don’t want God to give me something that is less than or different than His will for me, than His best plan for me. If God doesn’t want me to have it, then I don’t need it.

God answers prayers according to His will. This we can be sure of. There are times when the answers do not come quickly; BUT if we are praying for something that is His will, we must not give up. We must keep our faith in our God and in His promises. “The Lord is faithful and will keep all His promises. He is loving toward everything He has made” (Psalm 145:13b).