I’ve been there. The immense pain of feeling like you’re all alone. Like you’ve been abandoned. You pray and plead and seek for the feeling of something. Anything. But God is silent. And you’re confused. Confused why he would leave you feeling like this. Forsaken.

I’ve been there many times. Most notably was in my struggles with low milk supply. It felt like my greatest desire had been taken from me, and I had been left alone to pick up the pieces all by myself.

Wrestling with the why when we feel forsaken is normal. It’s a natural part of building faith and reliance on the Savior. It’s human to question, to search for meaning in our struggles, and to wonder if we’ve been left alone. But these moments of uncertainty shouldn’t weaken faith—they should shape it. Leaning into the questions, rather than avoiding them, creates space for deeper trust and reliance on the Savior. It’s in this process of wrestling that faith becomes more personal, more resilient, and more deeply rooted in His grace.

Still, the emotional impact of feeling like our prayers are being unanswered is heavy. It can create feelings of grief, doubt, frustration and even anger. It can feel as though we’re calling out into the void, longing for reassurance but hearing only silence.

Many faithful people have walked this path before us, feeling the weight of unanswered prayers and the ache of divine silence. Job, stripped of everything, cried out in his suffering, searching for God in the midst of his pain. Hannah, pleading year after year for a child, wept in the temple, wondering if her prayers would ever be heard. Even Christ Himself, cried out “Why hast thou forsaken me?” in the depths of agony as He bore the weight of the world. Their experiences remind us that feeling abandoned or unheard does not mean we are forgotten—it means we are human.

Questioning God doesn’t mean there is a lack of faith. Rather it shows our humanity. Living in this broken world where sorrows, and challenges exist, it is expected to question. To wonder why we are feeling alone. It is in these moments we can anchor ourselves in Christ who knows how we feel, and trust that He is there holding us up.

We might envision a clear, immediate resolution, one that aligns with our timelines and preferences. We expect that when we pray, we will receive an answer quickly, or that the solution will feel familiar, comforting, and exactly what we hoped for. But often, God’s answers don’t match our expectations—either in timing, form, or how they make us feel. His ways are higher than ours, and His understanding far greater, so His responses to our prayers might challenge our assumptions and stretch our faith in ways we didn’t foresee.

Just as Sarah and Abraham waited decades for a promised child, or Joseph endured betrayal and imprisonment before rising to save Egypt, our answers often come in ways we never could have predicted. The Israelites expected a swift journey to the Promised Land but wandered for forty years. Even Paul, imprisoned and restricted, found his greatest ministry opportunities in the very place he might have seen as a barrier. The Lord’s ways are not our ways, and while we may long for immediate answers, He sees the full picture. Delays are not denials—they are often divine preparations, shaping us to receive the blessings He has in store.

In my struggles with low milk supply, I expected the Lord to heal my emotional wounds for me. I expected Him to take away the hurt, the anger and the frustration. Instead, I got to learn how to take better care of myself. I learned how to love and bond with my son despite the breastfeeding challenges we faced. I learned that my value as a mother was not defined by my abilities. I learned how God feels about all His children, through the love I have for my own child.

Waiting can be one of the most challenging parts of our journey, but it is often through these times that we grow spiritually in ways we don’t expect. Trials, though difficult, refine our faith and help us learn to rely on the Lord in deeper ways. The discomfort of waiting is a tool that God uses to shape us, teaching us patience, perseverance, trust, and humility. Even when it feels like we’re in the dark, God is quietly working on our hearts, helping us grow into the people He knows we can become.

It’s easy to let doubt creep in when our faith feels shaky, but even then, it’s important to lean into that faith. Trusting God in the waiting, even when we don’t understand or feel His presence, strengthens our relationship with Him. Our Heavenly Father knows our hearts, and He is patient with us in our moments of uncertainty. Continuing to trust, even when the answers don’t come as we expect, draws us closer to Him and deepens our reliance on His perfect timing.

While I have waited, there are ways I have found peace and comfort. Prayer has allowed me to pour out my heart to God. Scripture study has offered guidance and hope, helping me to focus on His promises. Journaling has helped me process my thoughts and see the progress I’ve made, even in the waiting. Gratitude shifts my focus, helping me recognize the many ways God is still working in my life. By turning to these practices, I have found peace in the waiting, trusting that God’s plan is always unfolding, even if I can’t see it yet.

Imagine a tapestry being woven, with intricate patterns and colors. When we look at it from the back, all we see are knots, loose threads, and confusion. It doesn’t make sense to us at that moment. But as the weaver steps back, we see the beautiful design taking shape, revealing a bigger picture we couldn’t have understood before. In many ways, our lives are like this tapestry. We can only see a small part of God’s plan, and often, it’s the back side filled with difficulties, unanswered prayers, and unanswered questions. But God sees the whole picture, and His perfect plan is being woven in ways we can’t yet understand.

Even in those hard moments, we can trust that God’s love for us is constant. His love isn’t dependent on whether we’re receiving the answers we expect or when we expect them. He is always there, guiding, supporting, and loving us, even when circumstances feel tough or confusing. Though we may not understand why things happen the way they do, we can find peace knowing that His love never falters.

It’s often in the unanswered prayers that we learn to trust God more, to rely on His timing, and to see the blessings that were hidden beneath the surface. God truly sees the bigger picture, and even when things don’t make sense, we can trust that He is working all things for our good.

It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Life is full of uncertainties, and sometimes we don’t have all the answers we’re seeking. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when the path ahead is unclear, but God doesn’t expect us to have everything perfectly planned or understood. He invites us to come to Him as we are, with our questions, doubts, and fears. As we continue to seek Him, He will guide us step by step, even if we can’t yet see the full picture.

I encourage you to keep leaning into faith, even when the answers aren’t clear or when life feels like it’s in limbo. Trust that God is with you, and He will give you the peace you need in the waiting. He doesn’t leave us in the dark; He walks with us through the unknown, and His presence is enough to sustain us.

As you continue on your journey, remember this beautiful scripture from Isaiah 55:9 (KJV):
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Even when things don’t make sense, we can trust that God’s ways are far greater than our own, and He is working everything for our good. Keep seeking Him, and know that peace will come as you walk in faith, even in the unknown.