When Prayers Feel Unanswered: Choosing to Wait, Trust, and Persist

This Lent, I’ve made a trade—one that hasn’t been easy. I’ve given up part of my relaxing evening routine, setting aside thirty minutes of scrolling and vegging in exchange for something different. Instead of sinking into my couch, I’ve been getting up, walking, listening to music, and most importantly, praying. Specifically, I’ve been praying over three heavy burdens that some of my people are carrying.

Some nights, the temptation to stay put is strong. My comfy blanket calls my name, and I wrestle with the desire to just let go of the discipline. But more than just the temptation to give up, I wrestle with doubt about whether God will answer my prayers. I know God can answer my prayers, but will He? The waiting is hard, and in a world where instant gratification is expected, persisting in prayer can feel discouraging.

We live in a time where instant answers are at our fingertips. Need something? Same-day or overnight delivery. Annoyed by commercials? Pay to skip them. The world is built around getting what we want right now—but God doesn’t work that way. He has lessons for us in the waiting, in the trusting, and in the persisting.

Through this Lent Challenge, I’m getting a workout in perseverance:

1. Cease striving and know that He is God.

   “Be still, and know that I am God.” – Psalm 46:10

   Sometimes my prayers feel like striving—as if my effort in praying harder or longer will change the outcome. But God calls me to be still, to trust Him even when I don’t see movement.

   
   

2. God’s answers may seem silent, but He is still at work.

   In Daniel 10, the prophet Daniel prayed and fasted for three weeks, seeking understanding from God. After days of silence, an angel appeared to him and said, “Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.” (Daniel 10:12-13)

   
   

   This passage reminds me that just because I don’t see an answer yet doesn’t mean God isn’t working. There are battles happening in the unseen, and my prayers are heard—even when I don’t see the results I expect.

   
   

3. Keep praying—persistence builds faith.

   The parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18-1-8) teaches us that continuing in prayer isn’t about wearing God down, but about building our faith and dependence on Him. When I choose to persist, I am choosing to trust God’s timing and His goodness, even when I don’t yet see the outcome.

   
   

I don’t know how my prayers will be answered, but I know that God hears me. And so, I will keep walking, keep listening, and keep praying. Even when my couch calls to me, I remember that God isn’t limited by my timeline. I know that He is faithful to His promises.

If you're praying for something and feeling discouraged in the waiting, I encourage you—keep praying. God hears you, and He is at work, even in the silence.