God's Goodness in Our GriefSample

RELYING ON PRAYER

I deeply wanted to maintain my faith in God, but I struggled with feeling like God had failed me. As a family, we had fully relied on prayer. But now what were we supposed to pray for? The prayers to spare my sister’s life didn’t come to fruition, so why pray anymore?

When I dwelt on my unanswered prayers it was especially difficult. My outrage grew. I had to search my heart and realign it with what I knew about prayer. I knew that God always answers our prayers, although it may not be in the way we desire. I had to trust God even when I didn’t understand (Proverbs 3:5).

We prayed for healing and more time, yet that is not what we received. Death was not the answer we wanted, but it was an answer to prayer. Death is so final.

Each day feels like a greater struggle than the day before. In our struggle with death, we can keep talking to God. We don’t have to give up on talking to Him just because our prayers were not answered in the way we wanted.

He hears us, even when the answer isn’t what we hope for. We can cling to the truth that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

● How has God’s goodness been evident to you during a difficult time?

● Journal three ways God has shown His goodness to you.