We’ve all been there. We pray sincere prayers—God, make me more patient. Give me courage. Help me love better. And then life barrels forward, full of interruptions, discomfort, and frustrating people… and we miss the point.
I read a story recently that stopped me in my tracks.
A man prayed earnestly for three things: patience, courage, and compassion. That day, he yelled at his neighbor, hid during a crisis, and turned away a hungry stranger. That night, in confusion and disappointment, he asked God why He hadn’t answered. God’s reply was simple and devastating: “I gave you opportunities—but you weren’t paying attention.”
It’s sobering, isn’t it?James 4:3 (NKJV) says,
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
Sometimes, what we call unanswered prayer is actually a misunderstood one. We want to feel different, but God wants us to become different. That requires pressure. It demands participation.
We say, “Lord, take this from me,” and He says, “Lay it down.”
We ask, “Change me,” and He says, “Follow Me.”
He will empower, but we must obey.
We don’t get stronger by avoiding the weight—we get stronger by lifting it. And when we ask God to grow us, we must expect the workout, not just the wish. The opportunity, not just the outcome.
So today, pause and ask:
What opportunities have I ignored?
Where did I choose comfort over growth?
Where did I miss Him, because I wasn’t paying attention?
He may not hand you patience—but He’ll hand you someone that tests it.
He may not drop compassion into your heart—but He’ll place someone in your path who needs it.
He may not drop courage in your lap—but He’ll give you a moment to stand tall.
The answer to your prayer might not look like a gift. It might look like a challenge. But make no mistake—it’s an answer all the same.
