Prayers Not Answered

“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.” John 3:21 (NIV) A woman had prayed and prayed for her children to turn from their ways of addiction. She even asked the church for prayer that God would help her children stop and turn from their ways. It was for about seven years that she continued to pray, and it seemed nothing was happening. She slowly stopped coming to the church. We think she has given up on God because her prayers were not being answered. Let me share some Scripture that might help us understand this story. John 3:19-21 in another translation says, “They are judged by this fact: The light has come into the world. But they did not want light. They wanted darkness because they were doing evil things. Everyone who does evil hates the light. They will not come to the light, because the light will show all the bad things they have done. But anyone who follows the true way comes to the light. Then the light will show that whatever they have done was done through God.” (ERV) God does hear and answer prayer. He wants to and is willing to work with this woman’s children. But everyone has a free will provided by God. In her case, it seems that her children are not ready to give up the darkness they are living in and choose to stay in that lifestyle. Everyone who loves evil hates the light, and that is the truth. The ones who are true believers love the light. This woman’s children need to see the light of Jesus and turn from their darkness. Sad to say, many can’t see beyond the darkness they are living in. Let’s keep praying. God waits for people who are living in darkness to come to Him. – Kirby James Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org