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Discuss why the statement, “God always answers prayer ‘yes, no, or wait’” is inadequate to address the challenge of unanswered prayer in our lives.
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I think his love is so complex, it just can’t be explained in yes, no, or wait.
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He gives so much more than “yes, no, or wait” answers…I receive varying degrees of answers such as “yes, but only what you really need” and “yes, and more than I asked for”. God may say yes in a different method of delivery that I never thought of. “No” may come as blessing because we didn’t think thru our real needs, He may be saving us from ourselves. “Wait” maybe a lesson in patience, time given to think or wait for a response coming in a different method. Even the prayers that go unanswered are heard and responded to in His way…maybe we need to rethink what we prayed about.
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It is difficult when we pray things like someone coming into a relationship with Him and knowing the answer is “no”. I don’t think God wants anyone to be apart from Him, so that saying is inadequate. God tells us He is always with us, so He is always answering a prayer in His own way.
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I need to believe and trust that God is always working for my benefit.
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Such a glib formula of ‘yes, no, or wait’ is inadequate on two levels. Firstly, the speaker does not bend down to feel with and journey with the person who is struggling with unanswered prayer. Although we may have to accept ‘no’ from God, knowing it does not ease the pain of the sufferer. Even if it is a ‘wait’, the sufferer wrestles with the cry, “How long?” Even the faithful martyrs through the ages ask the Lord, “How long?” (Rev 6:9-10)
Secondly, it does not give the sufferer a practical handle on what to do now with the unanswered prayer. Do I take it as a ‘no’ and quit praying? Or do I persevere in faith, praying till I see it happen?