The Weight of Unanswered Prayer

How Long?

Habakkuk is not rebuked for this question. God answers. Not with the answer Habakkuk expected, but with an answer. The honest cry is not outside the bounds of prayer.

Unanswered prayer is one of the most difficult experiences in the Christian life. The thing prayed for, repeatedly, sincerely, does not come. And we are left with either our faith or our explanation for why faith is unnecessary.

Living in the Tension

The Bible does not resolve this tension. It holds it. Habakkuk prays and asks hard questions and ends with a declaration of trust — but the questions do not disappear first.

If you have prayers that have not been answered in the way you hoped, you are in good company with one of the minor prophets. The questions are allowed. Stay in the conversation.