We all love a good story about answered prayers. We have all heard stories or have friends who have prayed for a miracle and received the answers they were longing to get. But what if you pray or long for an outcome, and it just doesn’t come? I too have prayed for a miracle that didn’t happen.
In March of 2014, I found out I was pregnant. I took multiple tests, called the doctor, and scheduled my first appointment. Several weeks later, I started to bleed. It was so bad that I ended up in the emergency room. I prayed for a miracle and for the outcome not to be what I feared it would be. My miracle was not granted.
Here is what you need to know when you aren’t granted the miracle you prayed for:
Miracles are not normal. If they were regular occurrences and happened in every situation for every person, they wouldn’t be miraculous. I too prayed for a healthy first pregnancy, but it wasn’t the outcome I had.
Miracles are only for the glory of God. – They aren’t necessarily about the outcome. When Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, he said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4). While we want every problem solved, life is about glorifying God in all circumstances.
Miracles do not judge how strong your faith is. – the Bible is full of men and women who didn’t get the ideal outcome they desired; Jesus included.
So, what should you do?
Don’t stop asking God for help!
When my prayers weren’t answered, and ultimately my first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage, I didn’t stop praying for a miracle. In June of 2014, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. And in December of 2014, I found out Colton was on the way, and I still turned to God. I’m so thankful I did because I wouldn’t have been able to handle either situation without him. Prayer is all we have in those moments. Your faith and prayer don’t mean your healing and miracle are going to happen, rather our “job” is to pray, and prayer leads to peace, and peace calms all storms.
I would be lying if I didn’t say that my first reaction in the storm was to be mad at God. I think that is a very normal response to disappointment. Someone described anger this way: Anger is a human emotional response to situations that are either out of our control or out of our ability to understand, or both.
What should you do when faced with a situation too big to handle alone?
Step one is to pray:
In the Bible, Jesus says, – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). Having faith in God is not a free pass against hardships.
Step two is to take the blame away from God:
The thief’s purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in
all its fullness.” (John 10:10). Bad things come from evil, not from God. God is not to blame.
Step three: Tailor your prayers, asking for peace and strength!
Being a Christian means putting your faith in God, even during the bad times. Praying for peace and strength to make it through the day is the first step. But then, trusting that the Lord will ensure this situation makes you better in the long run.
Trust that God will use your hardship for something you haven’t seen yet!
God can use everything we go through for a greater purpose. I never imagined my first miscarriage would result in being diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I believe the greater purpose for that miscarriage was to make my thyroid cancer known to the medical professionals. And I never imagined I would get pregnant with Colton so quickly after beating cancer. I never imagined God would put me through a hard second pregnancy and then bless me with a healthy baby. A baby I named Colton, who has the most fascinating conversations, and tests my patience every single day.
I never imagined that God would use this story for his glory. But I wonder if that was part of his plan in my life. I may never know, without a doubt, the answer to that question, but in my heart, I already know without a doubt. So, remember, when you are in the storm, it will be easy to miss the tiny miracles that happen along the way. Be on the lookout and try not to miss them because they are what will give you hope for the future.
A miscarriage, cancer diagnosis, pregnancy where I was told my baby wouldn’t be born alive…All the fear, faith and doubt…was 100 percent worth it and got me to this moment!
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Have you been blessed with a miracle, big or small? Tell me in the DMs on IG!