Grief and Faith: The Problem of [Un]Answered Prayer

I’m really thankful that more and more Christians are willing to shed false positivity and embrace lament.

Because the truth is lots of stories this side of eternity end in tragedy or at least unmet expectations and sorrow instead of glorious, victorious sunshine and roses.

Crops and marriages fail. Dreams come and go.

We hope for healing but don’t receive it.

Loved ones die.

Let’s just be honest about it-about ALL of it.

❤ Melanie

In the wake of burying Dominic, the most difficult spiritual discipline for me to recover has been prayer.

In part because my heart just doesn’t know what to ask for or how to talk to a God Who has allowed this pain in my life.  

In part because I don’t really have a framework for placing the prayers I want to pray inside my ongoing struggle to commit my future and the future of my family to the hands of a Father Who didn’t step in to prevent Dominic’s death.

I still struggle with this.  

Read the rest of this post here: The Problem of [Un]Answered Prayer

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Author: Melanie

I am a shepherd, wife and mother of four amazing children, three that walk the earth with me and one who lives with Jesus. This is a record of my grief journey and a look into the life I didn't choose. If you are interested in joining a community of bereaved parents leaning on the promises of God in Christ, please like the public Facebook page, "Heartache and Hope: Life After Losing a Child" and join the conversation.

2 thoughts on “Grief and Faith: The Problem of [Un]Answered Prayer”

  1. I have struggled with prayer since Rachel died. I never thought about it before. I prayed scripture. I could pray fervently, for long periods of time. And then, I couldn’t. How do I pray to the God I love when my prayers over my child seem to have gone unanswered. “Seem to have gone.”

    I know God answered, but never in my wildest thoughts could I have expected His rescue of my dear Rae of Sunshine would be to allow her to come HOME?!

    Now I struggle. I still believe. I still love Him. Trust? Yes and no. I try to explain it this way. Now I know exactly how little control I have over anything. And bag things happen, horrible awful bad things happen. Now, there’s a shoe up in the air. I don’t know whose shoe it is, or when or where it’s going to fall. But I know it will fall. And I can’t stop it. Can’t hide from it. So. Today’s blog resonates. I am not thankful that you are on the journey, but I’m thankful that you are using your own pain and hard fought wisdom to help others. You help me. And now, I share you with others who have unfortunately joined us in the grief club.

    Thank you

    Kristyn Rafferty

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  2. I am 41 days in. My heart is shattered. My 32 year old son is gone. Quickly, unexpectedly and forever, gone. I have nine other children, all grown but will never feel complete this side of Heaven. How do I survive? When will I stop crying? Will I ever feel joy again? Why can’t I go to sleep and stay asleep until this nightmare is over?

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