If God cares about me, why isn’t He answering my prayers? 

There have been times in my life when it has felt like my prayers have gone unanswered. Someone I love is sick and needs healing, I’m waiting on test results or someone is feeling lost or broken … the list could go on and on. I realized the question is not, “why isn’t God answering my prayers,” but “is this the right timing?” Psalm 84:11(NIV) says, “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.” God’s timing is not our timing. In moments where we feel that God is not answering our prayers, continue to trust in His timing and His perfect plan. We do not always see the full picture or know all that God has in store. Keep praying and keep trusting in our caring Father. – Lt. Macy Gantner, Muscatine, IA

I know God says to love others, but how do you do that with people who are difficult to love?

It can become so easy to forget that we are all made in the image of God. This includes those who are difficult to love. 1 John 4:19 (NIV) states, “We love because He first loved us.” What a simple yet powerful statement. Understanding that, because God loved us first, He shows us the correct way to love one another and we are to reciprocate the love He gives freely to us to those all around us. Individuals who are difficult to love could be facing life challenges or may not have ever had the opportunity to be embraced by the love of God. We must remember that we are Christ ambassadors, meaning that we are to be representations of Christ here on earth. This includes loving the unlovable and showing them that they too are deserving of the love Christ wants to share with them; because we have received that love, why not share that with those who need it the most?! – Lt. Melissa Bledsoe, Benton Harbor, MI

The Salvation Army is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. An officer in The Salvation Army is an ordained minister of Christian faith. They dedicate their lives, skills and service completely to God. Submit your question to an officer at peermag.org/contribute