Answered Prayers

Looking to the heavens
I feel deep in my heart
There's so many things I want to say
but I don't know where to start ~
You've given me so many things
for which I'm deeply blessed
How can I ever thank you for
those things you knew were best.

A gift of life abundant
is what you've given me
And though I pray for many things
in time you've helped me see ~
That not everything for which I hope
will be answered through my prayer
For You may have much greater things
for me beyond compare.

You know the desires of my heart
but You also know me best
For You have many plans for me
that will bring me happiness ~
And though I may ask fervently
it may not be Your plan
To grant to me as I pray
though I may not understand.

For I only see the here and now
but You can see beyond
A bigger picture You have traced
that You knew all along ~
A greater plan for my life
You knew I would achieve
If I continue to put my trust
in You and believe.

Not everything for which I hope
is an answer to my prayer
Because I know You know me best
and that You really care ~
For everything in this chain of life
links me to greater things
Knowing that my prayers are still
answered deep within.

So if I got the things I wished for
when I had prayed for them
Where would those roads have taken me
if I followed them back then?
That is why You answered me
in a different way
Than giving me for what I hoped
all those times I prayed.

So now I want to thank You, Lord,
for not giving to me
The things that I had hoped and prayed
I thought would set me free ~
For only You knew the plan
You had for my life,
And now I know You kept Your word
by keeping me from strife.

Looking to the heavens
to the face that I adore
Thanking You for all You've done
I couldn't want for more ~
For still You've given me so much
that I would have never seen
So thank You, Lord, for all those things
You never gave to me.

Dedicated to Philip Carmen,
who gave me the food for thought and the inspiration to write this poem.

"This poem was inspired by a gratefulness of heart, through the words of a friend and a David Meece song "Things You Never Gave Me". So many times we pray for things we want, we hope for, we dream for and wish for....and when we don't get them, we think that God is not listening to us or that He isn't there. But when we don't receive what we ask for, it is that our prayers aren't answered in the way we hoped or thought they would. Many times our prayers are answered by God NOT answering them! He knows what is best for us; He knows the greater plan for our lives; He knows that what we pray for now whether it will or will not benefit our lives down the track. We see the immediate future, the future we like to see....but He sees the bigger picture! He has our best interests at heart, and He knows whether what we pray for now, if it will be the best thing for us or not. And maybe that prayer will be answered in time and not right away, because God's timing is always perfect....but no matter how it turns out our prayers are always answered. We just may not see them because it isn't in the way we thought they would be. So I have called this poem "Answered Prayers" because it is indeed about God answering our prayers in HIS way rather than ours. He answers our prayers in the way that will benefit us the most, and that may not be in the way we hoped it would be. And in not answering them, He is opening doors for us onto bigger and better things in our lives! But one thing is for sure....God has our best interests at heart. And one day, we will be thanking Him for NOT giving us those things we prayed for."