I’m doing a fabulous Bible Study on the topic of prayer right now called “Living a Praying Life.” One of the first questions in the study discusses times we have been disappointed with the outcome to specific prayers.

The author asks whether now, looking back at the situation (if some time has passed),  you understand more clearly why God may have answered your prayers and directed your steps differently than you had hoped for or requested of Him.

I couldn’t help but think back to a time in my life when I interviewed for a “dream job” as Senior Editor and Director of Communications for a well-known organization in Washington D.C. I was told my offer letter was in the mail and I was sure this job would take my career to new heights.

A few days later, while sitting on a Florida beach before a friends wedding, I got a call from the VP of the company. In an unforeseen series of events, the board of directors had called an emergency budgetary meeting and several positions had been cut as a result. Mine was included.

My “dream job” ended before it even began! I sat down on the warm sand quickly as though I had been punched in the stomach. I couldn’t speak. “This can’t be happening,” I told my husband. “How could this be God’s will?!” “Why would He bring me so close to my dream job and then take it away?”

My husband sought to console me the best he knew how – with words of truth from Scripture. That God knows the plans that He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11) and they are plans to prosper and not harm me, to give me a hope and a future.

He reminded me of the Sovereignty of God and His promise to lead me in the best plan for my life – where and how I can glorify Him best. Proverbs wisely tells us that “The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).

Looking Back with Thanksgiving

Country singer Garth Brooks has a song that says, “Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers…” While I agree with the sentiment of the song, I don’t believe that any prayers are really unanswered. They are simply answered differently than we may have hoped in that moment at that time.

I look back now at that moment almost a decade ago and rejoice that God knew what He was doing. I began another job, but shortly after God gave us the gift of our first child and I chose to quit work and stay at home.

Now, almost 7 years and 4 kids later, I see what a different path and plan He had for me than what I had originally envisioned. And it is exactly where I need to be.

Is there a plan you had, a direction you had purposed in your heart to go – and then the door was slammed shut in your face? Did you find yourself disappointed with God or doubting His goodness as a result?

Perhaps you still don’t understand why things have happened the way that they have. I want to encourage you today that God has plans for your life to do you good and bring Him glory. We are finite and don’t always see the big picture – but God does.

Sometimes what we think is good is not that good for us after all – but it may take some time for us to realize it. In the mean time, we can make a choice to trust God’s loving faithfulness towards us which will never fail and cling to His promises:

“The Lord God will give grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).