Garth Brooks may not be a prophet, but he shares some profound theology in one of his hit songs "Unanswered Prayer."  Listen ...

Just the other night a hometown football game

My wife and I ran into my old high school flame

And as I introduced them the past came back to me

And I couldn't help but think of the way things used to be.

She was the one that I'd wanted for all times

And each night I'd spend prayin that God would make her mine

And if he'd only grant me this wish I wished back then

Id never ask for anything again.

Sometimes I thank God for unanswered prayers

Remember when you're talkin to the man upstairs

That just because he doesn't answer doesn't mean he don't care

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.

She wasn't quite the angel that I remembered in my dreams

And I could tell that time had changed me

In her eyes too it seemed

We tried to talk about the old days

There wasn't much we could recall

I guess the Lord knows what hes doin after all.

And as she walked away and I looked at my wife

And then and there I thanked the good Lord

For the gifts in my life.

Some of God's greatest gifts are all too often unanswered...

Some of God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers

Ruth Graham, the late wife of Billy Graham, shares his sentiment as she once stated: "God has not always answered my prayers. If he had, I would have married the wrong men—several times.”

In his groundbreaking book "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day," author Mark Batterson also states "Some day we will thank God more for our unanswered prayers than for our answered ones."

It's so important to understand that God sees what we really want and really need in life (not just for the moment), and that all of our unanswered prayers and desires through life could really be one of the greatest examples we'll ever see of God's goodness and grace if we simply be patient and understanding.

Questions:

What unanswered prayers have you prayed that you are now relieved God didn't answer at the time? 

What prayers are you praying currently that you need to be reminded to trust God in? 

What prayers will you pray tomorrow that will in hindsight be best off as unanswered prayers?