Thanking God for Unanswered Prayers

Recently, something happened, or I should say, didn't happen, that I fully expected to happen.  I could see it, feel it, had built plans all around it.  I visualized, prayed, meditated, and anything else I thought I could do in effort to make it happen.  I was so sure it was going to happen.  I was so sure!  And then...it didn't.  Now what?

At first, I had to replay all the facts in my mind and well, that just pissed me off.  This should have happened!  But then, I started to widen my perspective and all I could think of was Garth Brooks singing, "Sometimes I thank God, for unanswered prayers..."  OK, OK, I get it, this is another one of those fabulous life lessons!  SUPER!!!  Just what I wanted.

So, like it or not, a lesson is being learned here and what that lesson is, is to be determined and well, kind of up to me.  I started to think about some other "unanswered prayers" that I've been so so grateful that God didn't listen to me!  Whew!  I hate to admit it, but I don't always know what I'm talking about and I've certainly had times that I've been so focused on what's right in front of me instead of opening up to greater possibilities.

A great example was back when I was teaching.  My classroom position was eliminated and I had the choice to go for a reading specialist position in my school, or go to a different school in the district and continue as a classroom teacher.  I really loved the school I taught in and loved all the students and their families.  I really wanted to stay and continue to work with all of those wonderful people.  However, I didn't get the reading specialist position.  So I sadly packed up my classroom and moved to the new school.   A couple days before the first day of school, my new principal approached me.  There was an overload of first graders and they wanted me to teach a first and second grade split class.  I gladly accepted the challenge.  That turned out to be one of the most challenging and rewarding years of teaching that I've had!  I learned so much and really sharpened my skills as an Early Literacy teacher.  Not to mention, my new school had lots of wonderful teachers, students, and families there too!  I felt very lucky to have the opportunity to grow so much as a professional.  A year later, my husband and I decided to pick up and move to Traverse City where I became a Literacy Consultant for Traverse Bay Area ISD.  No one, I tell you, NO ONE, would've been able to convince me that was going to happen!  I believe now it was because a greater plan was already set in motion for me.  I just hadn't caught up to it yet!

So today I sit with this new opportunity, a fresh start in a new direction.  I wonder what's going to happen, but I'm not worried like I would've been back in the day.  My stomach has some flutters, kind of like it does when something amazing and fun is about to happen!  Do I think it's all going to be easy?  No.  But I actually like having to work for it, to keep growing, and reaching, and listening, and learning.  And I like knowing that no matter what happens, if I'm being true to myself, and stay focused on living my dreams, they will all come true, exactly when they're supposed to!  Thank you God for always knowing which prayers to answer and when!

Have you ever been grateful for an unanswered prayer?  I'd love to hear from you!  Please share in the comment section or email me at: kristie.ignash@gmail.com!

Love to you!
Kristie