Why does is it seem some prayers are answered and some aren’t or don’t appear to be? As I think about my prayers and challenges, one of my favorite verses came to mind. The verse is Jeremiah 29:11.

Jeramiah, chapter 29 10:-14 – The Message

^10-11 This is God’s Word on the subject: “As soon as Babylon’s seventy years are up and not a day before, I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.
¹² “When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.
^13-14 “When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.
“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree.

We really like that comforting section… “plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.” But the meaning of this scripture doesn’t mean our plans become God’s plans and that all of our troubles go away. God wouldn’t prosper that Israelites until 70 years of exile and hardship had passed and that entire generation of Israelites had passed. God’s timing is different than ours and His purposes are different than ours. Instead of immediate gratification, God wants us to have hope even during the hardest times and to have joy even while going through our trials and to give our best even when the outcome is uncertain at best.

The other part of this scripture passage that really speaks to me is towards the end of verse 14:

“Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree.

If seeking God and serving Him is truly our heart’s desire, that is a prayer that God promises He will answer.