Yet To Be Answered Prayers

I was looking at my journal earlier this week, and going through all the goals I still haven’t ticked off. Some of them are from two years ago, some even longer.  As the end of the year approaches, it’s easy to look back and feel a twinge of disappointment. Perhaps there were dreams and goals you were certain would be fulfilled by now. You have taken all the right actions and done everything you know possible to achieve the goals. You’ve prayed persistently, waited patiently, and believed wholeheartedly. And yet, as the months pass, some of your deepest desires remain unmet. It’s hard not to question God’s timing or even His concern. But be encouraged, the silence of God does not mean He’s absent, and His seeming delay doesn’t mean He’s denied your request.

As I  was looking at my journal, I felt like Simon in Luke 5 vs 5 when he said, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything…”  Maybe you are saying:

• I have sent out many applications, but nobody has responded,
• I have attended so many interviews, but I have still not gotten a job.
• I have pitched my business idea, but I still have no funding.
• I have been praying for my loved one, but there is still no change.

Whatever you have been working hard on and you are still to see results, adopt Simon’s response and attitude in the second part of Luke 5 vs 5 when he says “...but because you say so, I will let down my net”

The Bible reminds us that God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9). What we interpret as delay might actually be God’s loving protection or preparation. Sometimes, God withholds what we want because He has something better in mind or because He’s still shaping us to handle what we’re asking for. I personally have many testimonies related to this. When i finally got what I had been praying for, I understood why i had to wait. Like a gardener who knows exactly when to plant and when to prune, God is intricately involved in the details of our lives, and He sees the end from the beginning.

Consider the story of Abraham and Sarah. God promised them a son, yet the fulfillment of that promise took many years (Genesis 12:2-4, 21:1-3). In the waiting period, they struggled and even made mistakes out of impatience, but God didn’t forget them. He was faithful to His word, and in the end, Isaac was born at the exact time God had purposed. If God made them wait, it was not because He wanted to withhold joy from them, but because the timing was crucial for His larger plan. May God grant you the grace to wait for your promise, your Isaac!

Joseph faced years of unanswered prayers while languishing in prison, forgotten by those he helped (Genesis 40-41). But every setback was a setup for his destiny. In one moment, his life changed, and he went from prisoner to prime minister. God’s delays are not His denials; they are often the pauses necessary to build something greater in you and for you.

As you are  waiting, it’s important to guard your heart against discouragement and to stay anchored in faith. Proverbs 13:12 says, “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.” It’s natural to feel weary, but don’t let the delays make you lose hope. Trust that God is working behind the scenes, aligning circumstances, and preparing the way. Continue to pray, not out of desperation, but out of trust that God will do what He has promised in His perfect time.

As you reflect on the year, focus not on what’s missing, but on what God has already done. There were challenges you overcame, blessings you didn’t expect, and even lessons learned through disappointments. God’s faithfulness in small things is a reminder that He is trustworthy for the big ones too. “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness” (2 Peter 3:9). When it’s time, His answer will come.

So, don’t let the end of a calendar year discourage you. What seems like a delay is often a divine setup. Your prayers are not forgotten, and the God who sees every tear and hears every whisper is still writing your story. Rest assured that His timing is always right. Keep believing, keep praying, and keep expecting—God is still at work.

Gratitude – This week, I am grateful for the gift of life, a roof over my head, food on my table, and the love of my family and friends. I do not take any of this for granted. Thank you Lord Jesus 🙏

Till next week, I remind you that God is not done with you yet.

Tendai AKA Mum In Stilettos

PS – I would love to hear from you. What are you grateful for this week? Let me know in the comments, and we can glorify God together.