If we don't understand why our prayers don't seem to get answers, maybe the most common-sense thing to do is ask.

The Old Testament book of Habakkuk makes it clear that having a candid conversation with God about what is or isn't happening isn't going to hurt God's feelings. God can handle our misgivings.

Habakkuk wondered openly why the wicked seemed to prosper while those more righteous did not. And when God's answer to Habakkuk's first question didn't satisfy him, the Old Testament prophet pressed his case even further. God counseled him that the just will live by faith.

Sometimes the desire to understand gets in the way of seeing the answer. Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth helps us to see a little more clearly, even when we don't understand.

"Handling Unanswered Prayer" by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

PRAY

Father, we praise You in the midst of what we don't understand. Your ways are above our ways, Your thoughts are above our thoughts. Steer us away from wrong conclusions, from accusing You when we don't know what to think, and help us to hold to Your unchanging hand. In Jesus' Name ... 

REFLECT

"For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false." — Habakkuk 2:3

RESPOND

We've seen that God isn't challenged by our tough questions and the things we don't understand, even the things that might make us angry. But in the midst of our frustration, are we able to see the bigger picture -- when God might be glorified as we go through a tough situation rather than avoiding it? Andy Stanley shows us how that works when he counsels us to "Take No for an Answer."