No one talks enough about the grief of God’s Will. Some people call it the grief of “unanswered prayers,” but hear me when I say: God answers all prayers, just not always the way we expect. His answers are “yes,” “no,” and “not yet.” How do you reconcile the emotional turmoil of something you’ve prayed for over days, months, even years? Whether you were pleading for God to heal someone, restore a relationship, resurrect something you lost, or bring justice to a situation, it hurts when His Will doesn’t match your desire. I stand in solidarity with you. God is not too big for your questions, your tears, or your pain. But we must come to terms with the truth: He knows what’s best. Unlike us, He sees the full picture, from the end to the beginning. We only see from our limited vantage point.

“Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.” 

John 13:7 NLT

Think of it like the relationship between a parent and a toddler. A child, in their immaturity, believes they know what’s best and may act on impulse, potentially leading to harm. The parent steps in, not to punish, but to protect. And even when a child rebels and follows their own way, the outcome often affirms what the parent warned of. The same is true with God. Some of us are praying and longing for something that was actually destroying us, emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. What you saw as a “no” from God may have actually been divine protection. We serve a God who does not desire to withhold good things from us, not the spouse, the breakthrough, the justice, the healing, or the provision. But sometimes we’re simply not ready for what we’re asking for, and sometimes it is just not His Will for our lives. We must be mature enough to receive what we’re praying for.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord . “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:8-9 NLT

“There is nothing more deceitful than the heart of man; who can understand it? Man’s heart is sick, in need of healing.”

Jeremiah 17:9 TPT

You cannot stand in a field and expect a harvest if you have done no planting. You must prepare for what you’re praying for. Seek God and His kingdom first, and pursue healing, deliverance, and wisdom. Read the books, attend the classes, and get around people who are walking in the same direction. And above all, obey His voice. Don’t be lukewarm or double-minded. Don’t pull up what you’ve planted in faith. Stay rooted. Be open to His will and not led by emotions or unmet timelines. God’s plans for your life will succeed, but obedience is required. Your waiting is not punishment, it’s preparation.

“Here’s what Yahweh says to you: “I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail. My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope.”

Jeremiah 29:11 TPT

Lastly, do not be blinded by what you lack, what you’re still hoping for, or even what God has clearly said “no” to. Don’t miss the blessings He’s placed right in front of you. Your life today is still full of favor. Don’t let daily miracles pass you by because you’re grieving what’s behind you or anxious about what you can’t control ahead. Be present. Be intentional. Be faithful, while today is still here. What you lost was not the best thing that will ever happen to you. Your destiny is not tied to what walked away.