How to Find Strength in Waiting on God Through Unanswered Prayers

Waiting on God and Trusting In The Midst of Unanswered Prayers

If you’re tired of waiting for God to move? Tired of praying the same prayer over and over, this is for you.

I’ve prayed the same prayer every night for what feels like forever. And if you’re reading this, I bet you’re in the same boat.

Pouring your heart out to God, but the answer hasn’t come. Or maybe it feels like the answer is “no” or “not yet.”

Ever wondered if God is really faithful?

I’ve had some notable seasons of my life where I’ve struggled with heavy fear and anxiety, and this year is definitely adding to the list. And the biggest struggle—questioning God’s faithfulness.

Now, I don’t know what your situation looks like. Maybe it’s a prayer for healing, for direction, for reconciliation… but if you’re here, I’m guessing you know what it’s like to feel stuck. Maybe even asking yourself, “What’s the point of praying?”

If that’s you, you’re in the right place because I wanna show you a bible passage that has brought my wife and me a lot of comfort in the midst of unanswered prayers. We’ve even used this as a template on what to pray.

And then we’ll tell you about a free devotional series specifically designed for those in waiting seasons.

God can handle your messy prayers

Personally, it makes me feel comforted knowing that even those “heroes of the faith” in scripture had moments when they were just feeling alone. Distant from God. Even someone like David, in the Bible, who was described as “a man after God’s own heart,” had these raw, human moments.

In Psalm 13, he cries out:

“How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?”

I mean… same, right? I feel that.

David felt forgotten by God. Overwhelmed, sitting in his own thoughts. Stuck in this feeling of sorrow as he was waiting on God. But here’s what gets me: David didn’t stop praying. Even though David was feeling alone. Like God wasn’t answering his prayer.

David didn’t let his frustration push him away from God.

Instead, he let that frustration pull him closer. He was honest with God. And maybe that’s what you and I need to hear today—it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. It’s okay for your prayers to be a little more messy.

It’s okay to say, “God, I don’t get it. This situation sucks!”

That honesty? God can handle it.

My wife and I are in a situation that we feel like we can’t seem to get out from under. And worst of all, it’s our fault. We put ourselves in the situation.

A long story real short: we found ourselves in fear that God wouldn’t provide financially and made decisions we can’t seem to get out of. Night after night, we pray a similar prayer: for God to take this burden off of us. But all we’ve heard is “not yet.”

While you may not relate to that exactly, I bet you can relate to that feeling of “How long, oh lord?”

Tune into JOY FM to hear 24/7 music that encourages you in a hard season.

Turning the pain you’re feeling into praise

But that’s why I love Psalm 13 so much! I relate to David!

But David also reminds us that our prayers don’t have to stop at the cry for help.

He turns his pain into praise. At the end of his prayer, David says:

“But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.”

It’s such a shift, right? David moves from frustration, and maybe even fear… to trust—not because his situation changed in that moment, but because he remembered who God is. He remembered God’s faithfulness in the past and clung to the truth of God’s unfailing love.

“Our prayers don’t have to stop at the cry for help”

So, if you’re tired of waiting on God… if you’re tired of praying the same prayer, here’s what I want you to know: God hears you.

Even in the silence, He is there. This isn’t the end of your story. It’s an invitation to lean into God’s presence, even when it’s hard.

And let’s be real—sometimes, that leaning in might just look like a whispered, “Help me.” Or a messy, tear-filled cry that says, “I don’t know what to pray anymore.” That prayer? It’s enough. He’s right there with you.

A week ago my wife and I were just discouraged by our unanswered prayers and had nothing else new to say to God. But we used Psalm 13 as the perfect template for what to say.

Will you pray this prayer in this waiting season?

“Lord, I come to You feeling tired, stuck, and unsure of what to say anymore. Just like David, I cry out: How long, Lord? How long will I feel this way? But in the middle of me questions, I choose to trust in Your unfailing love. Strengthen me when I feel weak, and remind me of Your goodness. Give light to our eyes and peace to our hearts as we wait on You. Amen.“

If you have something specific we can be praying for, you can submit your prayer request here and our team will be lifting you in prayer.

A song to help turn your pain into praise

As we navigate the season of unanswered prayers, music can serve as a beacon of hope, guiding our hearts back to faith and trust in God’s timing. The song “Do It Again” by Elevation Worship beautifully encapsulates the perseverance of faith amidst waiting. Reminding us that God’s faithfulness is unchanging, even when our circumstances are unpredictable.

If you’re in a season of waiting on God, letting the truths in this song wash over you can change your heart! It uplifts you and points you back to Jesus, reminding you to trust in His promises. So, as you reflect on this waiting season, take a moment to listen to “Do It Again,” and feel free to check out many more songs that will remind you of God’s faithfulness.

As always, you can tune into JOY FM to hear music that uplifts you 24/7.