Sermon On An Unrequited Love

Ranata Suzuki, a female anonymous poet and writer based in Sydney, Australia once remarked: “There is an ocean of silence between us… and I am drowning in it.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 reminds us: “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

An unrequited love might be said to be correlated to an unanswered prayer. Both experiences may create homogeneous feelings of drowning, yearning, disappointment, and hurt caused by a deep, unmet longing. For many, the analogy serves as a powerful framework for understanding and coping with one-sided relationships, whether earthly or spiritual. It is a characteristic of perceived ignored prayers that can lead to feelings of frustration, confusion, and spiritual pain. Consistent to a relationship, an unrequited love is sometimes regarded as a form of individual rejection, but this is not necessarily so, it can also be interpreted as the answer to a prayer being delayed, different from what was asked, or a sign that God has a different plan. Many religious perspectives suggest that a "no" or "wait" is not a refusal, but a guiding action meant for a person's greater good, to protect them, or to teach them patience and trust. It can also refer, according to various philosophical perspectives, to the notion of a love between a person and a divine being that may be perceived as unrequited on the human side. Unanswered prayer is common to most people, though many religious panoramas hold that all prayers are answered in some way.. Reasons for unanswered prayer can include having wrong motives, harboring unconfessed sin, or praying for something contrary to a divine plan, with the experience often used to encourage a closer relationship with God or to develop spiritual maturity.

Prayers may go unanswered due to a variety of reasons, depending on one's faith tradition, such as a lack of faith or doubt, selfish or sinful motives, being contrary to God's will, spiritual opposition, or a failure to act in accordance with the prayer. Other perspectives suggest that the concept of an "unanswered prayer" depends on the belief system, such as a non-dualistic view where there is no one to answer, or that answers are dependent on deserving the outcome. It is maintained by some, that people do not lose heart through unanswered prayer, as there is no physical connection between the two.

However, unanswered prayer can lead to emotional distress, and some people may interpret this as a loss of warmth, peace, or other feelings, albeit this is considered an emotional and spiritual experience, not a physical one. However, some oppose this theory. Other people believe that unanswered prayer is a sign of God's neglect, they lose heart when prayers seem unanswered, which can lead to feelings of disappointment and a loss of faith. Many spiritual texts and leaders encourage persistence and provide alternative perspectives, suggesting that unanswered prayers are not a sign of being ignored but can be a way to grow faith, or that answers may come in unexpected ways. A belief instead that it is an invitation to trust Him more deeply is argued that unanswered prayers can stem from reasons beyond human comprehension, like God's timing or wisdom, and can be a means for personal growth or a test of faith, rather than a reason to lose heart.

A prominent biblical example of unanswered prayer is Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asked to be delivered from his suffering, but ultimately submitted to God's will to face the cross. Another example is the apostle Paul's "thorn in the flesh," for which he repeatedly prayed for removal, but God did not grant it, explaining instead that His grace was sufficient. Matthew 26:36-46 depicts Jesus's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, highlighting his humanity and agony as he submits his will to God's plan for the crucifixion. It emphasizes the power of prayer in times of distress, the struggle between personal desire and God's will, and the need for spiritual vigilance, illustrated by his disciples' failure to stay awake and pray with him. The passage shows that even in moments of extreme sorrow, Jesus models complete submission to his Father's will, even when it means facing immense suffering. The passage reminds us: “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples: “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch[a] with me.”