A Prayer about Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish?

Luke 11:10

Good Father, 

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayers I prayed 

that you didn’t answer the way I wanted 

or prayers that you answered 

with those two hard words, “not yet” or “no.” 

For many of those answers, 

I am now so grateful:

Thank you for not getting me back together 

with that mean high school boyfriend,

Thank you for not letting us

get that house I wanted in my friends’ neighborhood,

Thank you for not giving me that full scholarship to college 

that seemed like a dream come true 

(because I might never have transferred to the college where I met my husband)…

[Name some “prayers answered differently” that you are now thankful for].

I confess, God, there are some prayers I’ve prayed 

that are still answered “not yet” 

and prayers for which I didn’t honestly love your answer: 

The prayer that angels would protect my mother 

when she was sick with Covid.

The prayer that our children would be healthy every day of their lives.

[Name some “answered differently” prayers you’re not so sure about].

And yet, we cannot, we do not, doubt your love for us. 

We cannot, we do not, doubt you want the best for us. 

We do believe that you are a good Father 

who is working your best plan 

not only for our good 

but also for the good of your kingdom. 

And we’re grateful to be part of that kingdom plan. 

Thank you for hearing our prayers.

In Jesus’ faithful name. Amen.

Read Matthew 6:5-15.

*Quotes from Nathan Bierma’s great book, Bringing Heaven down to Earth