What to Remember When Your Prayers Seem Unanswered

Sometimes it feels as though our prayers and tears are still waiting for an answer. Some people long to find their soulmate, while others struggle with financial hardship, health challenges, or the painful wait for children. In his book Yagel Libi B'Yeshuatecha ("My Heart Will Rejoice in Your Salvation"), Rabbi Yigal Cohen offers words of encouragement rooted in faith and trust in God, reminding readers that even in life's most difficult moments, there is never a reason to lose hope.

Waiting to Find Your Soulmate?

Rabbi Cohen writes that those who have not yet found their life partner may sometimes feel that salvation is slipping further away. Yet, he says, this is precisely when it is important to remember that God desires a person's good. The waiting period is a test of faith and trust, calling a person to continue praying and holding onto hope, knowing that the Creator has not forgotten them.

He writes: "If you have not yet found your soulmate and the wait is difficult, know this: the Creator desires even more than you do that you find the partner destined for your soul. In His wisdom, He has chosen to place you in this test to see whether your love for Him remains steadfast even now. Hold on. The Creator has not forgotten you, and His love for you knows no bounds. Lift your eyes to Him, continue your prayers, remain steadfast in your trust, and your salvation is very near."

Waiting for Children?

For those who have waited years to have children, Rabbi Cohen points to Sarah, through whom the Jewish nation began despite many years of infertility. He explains that her story teaches us that nothing is beyond God's power. Even when medical forecasts seem discouraging, they do not limit the Creator's ability to bring salvation.

He writes: "If you have not yet been blessed with children, remember that our nation began with Sarah, who was barren. Why did the Creator choose to establish such a remarkable nation through a woman who could not conceive? To teach us that nothing is impossible for God. Reflect on the countless blessings He has already given you throughout your life, and you will recognize His love for you. Continue your simple, sincere faith in the Creator, trust that He will fulfill your heart's desire, and know that even if doctors cannot offer encouraging news, the Creator is not limited by any human factor. True salvation is always in His hands."

Facing Financial Hardship?

Regarding financial struggles, Rabbi Cohen points to Abraham, who experienced poverty and severe tests but never questioned God's ways. In time, he returned from Egypt blessed with great wealth. The message is that even when financial circumstances seem bleak, there is no reason to despair, because God has the power to transform everything in a single moment.

He writes: "To you, dear Jew, who is being tested through poverty, a trial that our Sages teach is among the most difficult, remember Abraham. When he descended to Egypt, he was poor and even had to buy food on credit, yet he never questioned the Creator's ways, and his love for God never wavered. When he left Egypt, he returned with great wealth. Know that the Creator can send you all the gold and silver you need in a single moment. This is your test. Do not lose heart. Show the Creator that you are walking in Abraham's footsteps, whose greatness was revealed in times of hardship, and God will bring you salvation in the blink of an eye."

Struggling With Illness?

Rabbi Cohen also offers encouragement to those facing health challenges. Just as God governs all of creation, He also has the power to bring healing and recovery. Alongside making the necessary practical efforts, Rabbi Cohen urges people to strengthen their prayers, faith, and trust.

He writes: "And to you, dear Jew, who is enduring the trial of illness and asks each day, 'From where will my help come?' Know that just as the Creator commands bacteria to enter the body at a certain time, so too He can command them to depart. As the Torah says, 'I wound, and I heal' (Deuteronomy 32:39). The stronger your faith in God's ability to restore your health completely, the sooner your salvation will come. Lift your eyes to your Father in Heaven and pray from the depths of your heart, for from Him your salvation will come."

Even when the journey is long and salvation seems delayed, it does not mean that God has abandoned us. Faith, prayer, and trust provide the strength to keep moving forward through life's most difficult seasons, sustained by the hope that deliverance can come at any moment.