“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made.”
Psalm 145:13 NIV
Have you ever been disappointed when your prayers weren’t answered or desires not met? I’ve questioned God many times, not understanding Him or His will. Especially when I felt like I was close to the Lord, growing in Him, serving Him, loving Him with all my heart and doing my best to obey His Word. As a younger, newer Christian, I was taught to believe and confess the promises of God for a victorious and successful life in and through Jesus.
I soon discovered that the likes of Jeremiah, the prophet representing God; King David; Job, God’s blameless servant; and the apostle Paul expressed their struggles and disappointments in God.
“O Lord, you misled me, and I allowed myself to be misled. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked every day; everyone laughs at me… But if I say I’ll never mention the Lord or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am worn out trying to hold it in! I can’t do it!”
Jeremiah 20:7-9 NLT“David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. The elders of his household pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. Then on the seventh day the child died.”
2 Samuel 12:16-18 NLT“I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look.”
Job 30:20“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’”
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT“He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, ‘My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.’”
Matthew 26:39 NLT
I had (and still have) lots of questions. Many people in the Bible experienced situations where promises of God they were holding onto were unmet. The prayers the above men of God prayed, even Jesus, were not answered in the way they desired.
Of course disappointment can easily creep into our hearts leading us to discouragement, even despair. I think as Christians we need a better understanding of how to read the Bible to better interpret some of the “promises of God.” People can become disillusioned with God when they think God is not being faithful, fair, or keeping His promises. Maybe what we believe to be promises of God in the Bible are not meant for us today?
I’m still working on understanding what promises are for me to pray for and expect God to hear and answer, and which ones are not. What about you? Do you want to learn, grow, and discuss topics like this? I would love to talk with you to learn and grow together. So, contact me and we can grow mānoa in our relationship with God through His Word!
