When Prayers Go Unanswered

It’s been seven years since my dad was called home, and the weight of his absence is still something I carry every single day. Grief has a way of showing up when I least expect it, sometimes quietly, other times with a force that takes my breath away. I still find myself asking questions I can’t answer: Why did God take him? Why did our prayers for healing seem to go unanswered? 

On the day my dad passed, my sister and I experienced something I can only describe as holy. In the midst of the heartbreak, when the finality of death should have crushed us, there was an indescribable sense of peace that washed over the room. A peace that could only come from God. It didn’t take away the pain, but it held us steady, reminding us that heaven had welcomed him home and that he was whole in ways this world could never give. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV). That day, I understood those words in a way I never had before. 

Since that day, I’ve been on a journey of trying to make sense of it all. The questions linger, but so does the quiet assurance that God has not wasted this pain. In this strange season of life, I’ve been searching for purpose, asking where God is leading me, and slowly realizing that maybe part of my calling is to pick up where my dad left off. 

Grief has shaped me, but it hasn’t destroyed me. If anything, it has grown me. It has softened my heart toward others who hurt, it has deepened my faith in ways I didn’t know were possible, and it has stirred something new in me, something that’s been building quietly behind the scenes. 

I’m not ready to share it all just yet, but I will say this: I’ve been working on a way to carry forward his legacy and honor the life he lived. It’s both scary and exciting, but I know it’s what God is preparing me for. Scripture reminds me, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28, NIV). Even when I can’t see the full picture, I trust that God is weaving good out of the hardest parts of my story. 

Seven years feels like both a lifetime and just yesterday. I miss my dad’s laughter, his wisdom, his prayers, and his steady presence. But even in the ache, I hold onto the truth  

that grief and peace can coexist. That unanswered prayers don’t mean God was absent;

they may just mean His answer looked different than mine. 

Dad, I miss you deeply. But I’m learning, growing, and getting ready to continue the work you started. Until I see you again, I’ll keep trusting the God who gave us peace even in the valley. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18, NIV). 

With love and faith, 

Raquel 

This is only the beginning of the story....