Tag Archives: Jesus

Does God Answer all “In Jesus Name” Prayers?

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A few years ago, I met someone who candidly shared that he had lost his faith in God after his mother passed away. He described how he had prayed earnestly, pleaded with God, and truly believed she would be healed. But when she died, he could no longer see the purpose in believing in a God who, in his eyes, hadn’t answered.

After our wedding, I moved to Seattle to join my husband, who was already living there.
We had the privilege of getting to know a dear pastor—a kind and humble man we were introduced to through a mutual friend.

He and his wife welcomed us with such grace, and we quickly got to know and love them, their family, and the congregation they faithfully led.
Not long after we joined the church, he was diagnosed with leukemia. In his 60s.

We prayed.
Oh, how we prayed.

Tearful, fervent prayers. Prayers in Jesus’ name.
Prayers from a church that believed God is able to heal any illness.
Prayers from friends who couldn’t imagine this story ending in death.

But a year later—he was gone.

Those are the prayers that sit heavy in the soul.
The ones whispered through tears in the dead of night.
At hospital bedsides. In war zones. Dorm rooms. Decision tables.
The ones we end the “right” way:
“In Jesus’ name, amen.”

And yet—
some of them are met with silence.
Doors stay shut.
Suffering lingers.
The miracle doesn’t come.
A loved one dies.

If you’ve been there too—
you’re not alone. And you’re not doing it wrong.

I’m sharing what I’ve come to understand about what it truly means to pray in Jesus’ name, and why, even then, the answers we receive may not look the way we hoped or imagined.

The Misunderstood Promise

Jesus says in John 14:13–14:

“And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”

This verse has been quoted in revival meetings, and quiet morning devotions. But it’s often misunderstood.

To ask in Jesus’ name is not just a magic phrase that flips a switch—it means:

  • Asking under His authority, like an ambassador.
  • Asking in alignment with His will, not just our desires.
  • Asking with the goal of glorifying the Father, not gratifying the flesh.

It’s not a blank check. It’s an invitation to pray like Jesus would pray.

And here’s the hard truth:
Even when you do that—sometimes, the answer might still be NO.

Let’s look in the Bible, when the faithful heard “NO”

This is not new. Scripture is full of God-loving, Spirit-led people who prayed with pure hearts—and didn’t get what they asked for.

✦ Moses

He led God’s people through the wilderness. He talked with God face to face. And he prayed:

“Let me go over and see the good land…” (Deut 3:25)

God said NO.

Moses didn’t get to enter the Promised Land. His journey ended on a mountain—overlooking it, but not stepping foot.
Faithful—but denied.

✦ David

He fasted, prayed, and wept for his dying son—the child born from his failure, yes, but still his beloved son.

“Who knows? The Lord may be gracious…” (2 Sam 12:22)

The child still died.

David worshipped anyway. Not because he got what he asked for, but because he trusted who God was, even in the heartbreak.

✦ Paul

He begged God three times to remove the “thorn in his flesh”—something so agonizing that scholars still debate what it was.

“Three times I pleaded…” (2 Corinthians 12:8)

God said no.

Instead, He gave something better than healing:

“My grace is sufficient for you.”

✦ Even Jesus

In Gethsemane, our Savior—the very Son of God—cried out:

“Father, if You are willing, take this cup from Me…” (Luke 22:42)

But He added,

“Yet not My will, but Yours be done.”

And the cup was not taken away.
Jesus drank every bitter drop. For you and I!

And few moments in Scripture illustrate this better than the man with leprosy in Luke 5:12. He approached Jesus with confidence in His power but reverence for His will:

“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

He didn’t plead. He didn’t demand. He simply believed—and submitted.

If I’m honest, I probably wouldn’t have done that.
If I were in his place—face to face with the King of Kings—I might’ve listed a hundred things. “Heal me. Fix this. Change that. Do it now.”
But this man said only, “If You are willing.”

That kind of faith doesn’t try to control the outcome.
It trusts the One who holds it.

And Jesus responded not only with compassion but with power:

“I am willing. Be clean.”

This is what praying in Jesus’ name really looks like—a posture of trust over control, surrender over strategy.

What if the “No” is the mercy?

Sometimes we ask for things that would wreck us if God said yes. Other times, we’re asking for something good—but God is doing something greater. Something we won’t understand until we look back from eternity.

What if the “unanswered prayer” was the answer?

What if God’s “no” is not rejection—but redirection?
Not punishment—but preparation? Growing & molding us?

When we don’t understand—He still is good!

This I know too well:

GOD is not cruel.

“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.” – Psalm 103:8

He is not ignoring you.

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry.” – Psalm 34:15

He has not forgotten your tears or dismissed your faith.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your book?” – Psalm 56:8

He sees what you cannot.

“His understanding no one can fathom.” – Isaiah 40:28

And when He delays, denies, or remains silent—

“Jesus replied, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’” – John 13:7

It is never because He doesn’t care.

“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7

It’s because His plans are higher, deeper, and more redemptive than we can imagine.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways… as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways.” – Isaiah 55:8–9

God’s plans for us are good.

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Romans 8:28 brings it all together.

It says:

“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

Keep praying, even if the answer doesn’t come

So what do we do?

We pray.
We ask boldly.
We weep honestly.
We submit fully.

And when the heavens seem quiet, we cling to the truth that God is still at work.

He is not a vending machine—He is a Father.
Wise. Just.
And He sees beyond your asking, into your becoming.

He knows what you truly need, even when you don’t.

So keep praying.
Not to bend His will to yours,
but to align your heart with His.

Not to get everything you desire,
but to grow into who He created you to be.

This is the power of prayer in Jesus’ name.
Not a guarantee of outcomes —but an invitation to intimacy, to trust, to transformation.

Indulge Me, World!

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In this tender month of April,
Grant me the moment to entreat.
For within this season’s embrace,
Memories abundantly flow.
A path through trials, battles faced anew,
Life’s tapestry woven, by pain and strength tried.

♦

In ’94, hell engulfed Rwanda,
The land of a thousand hills that once gleamed with light.
Rolling hills and lush green, a paradise’s hymn,
Now veiled in the blood of my kin, a tragic tale.
Silent world, their crime?
Physical features they couldn’t curtail.

♦

I harbor no grudge, my word stands strong,
Bitterness won’t mend the past.
No victim’s stance, I claim my place,
Resilience carries on, a path unmarred.
From the ashes rising, steadfast in my stand,
Forgiveness, not vengeance, a lighter hand.

♦

Three decades on, wounds still tender and raw,
Their memories revered, a pledge of eternal splendor.
Their absence echoes, a void within my heart,
Their journey truncated, a poignant call to persevere.
Allow me, O world, to unveil my story arc,
Of valor, endurance, and transcending the dark.

♦

I vow, no tale of despair shall you find,
Instead, one of strength against fate’s bind.
From shadows, a journey to illuminate,
Survivor by name, warrior within.
Carving purpose from chaos,
A new life to behold, another chance to cherish.

♦

Each trial conceals a lesson’s profound lore,
And within every warrior, hope eternally soars.
In brokenness, faith endures in tranquil sway,
In this April’s remembrance, my heart doesn’t tarry.
Allow me to raise this resounding anthem high,
To honor, to unite, in hope’s enduring embrace.

💓


Paying tribute to my dad, mom, brother, and sister who were taken from me so soon, during the 1994 genocide against Tutsi, in Rwanda (4/7, 4/17, 4/24). 
💓May their memories forever remain a blessing💓

“Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa

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“Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Mathew 25:37-40

You may have read one of the famous Bible verses on love in the book of the first Corinthians chapter 13: “Love is patient, love is kind” etc. There are a few lessons I recently learned from it that challenged and convicted me. I plan to share some details in a separate post. For now, I will simply say that I am naturally sensitive and passionate, which can be good and bad. However, I will try to focus on the good part for now.

I cannot stand injustice. It hurts so much when people are not being fair. I don’t like when bad things happen to good people. I cry when I see cruelty against innocent people. I weep in front of my TV, computer or out in the open when I see homeless children who live off of the dumpster and in the streets, homeless grownups against their will, poor and hungry people. It is heartbreaking to see people who once had it all together and wars/tragedies suddenly turn their lives upside down, into refugees, homeless, helpless and starving. Life is so unpredictable.

On Tuesday this week, a woman that I have always looked up to and admired for her courage as long as I have known her, surprised me with the news I was not expecting to hear. I was already aware that she has lost her job several months ago and had been unsuccessful to obtain another one, but I had no idea as to what extent she was struggling. I wept as I read line by line. I was very sadden by the fact that she may lose her home, a home she built by herself, along with raising her young children after she lost her husband during the 1994 Rwandan genocide against the minority Tutsi group in her late 20s.

RwandaRwanda

My heart was torn. I was at loss for words! I haven’t cried so much in a while like I did as she explained it to me over the phone. As I felt sorry for myself for being so weak and hopeless, I remembered how Jesus felt when He arrived at His friend’s house, Lazarus. As many people gathered and mourned for Lazarus who died 3 days earlier, Jesus wept, too! (John 11:35).

The Son of God wept, NOT because He was helpless like I was or often am in situations like this. In fact, His main purpose there after His intentional 3-day delay, was to raise Lazarus from the dead and glorify His Father! Jesus was moved by the pain and weeping around Him because of Lazarus. I remembered that very moment that Jesus understood my pain and indeed cared for my friend more than I did. Although I still wish I was super rich to be able give to my friend all the amount she needs, I know that a little bit can go a long way.

I launched a campaign for my friend Rose. I accepted that I may not be able to raise all the money that she needs at the moment, or that I may be surprised. Either way, I am being obedient, and trusting the Lord for His provision and compassion for His children. I have not really done any other fundraising campaign, and I absolutely hate asking money from people. Nonetheless, I also believe in God’s miracles and the way He uses His own people!

Please click here to join my campaign: Help a Rwandan genocide against the Tutsi Survivor Widow!

I cannot change the world; in fact, God knows that I am incapable of even changing a single soul. However, I am determined to do something small whenever I get an opportunity. And then, I want to leave the rest to God who is capable of answering prayers and being everything to those in need!

God bless you

“Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.” James 1:27

The Truth Behind My Smile

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“I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” Psalm 22:22

Thank you for stopping by. God has put something on my heart that I hope and pray will encourage you. Even if everything else I write here is forgotten, I hope this post forever remains a testimony of my gratitude to God Above ALL.

Bene

“It is doubtful whether God can use a man greatly, until first He wounds him deeply.”
– A.W. Tozer

The reason that I am deeply rooted in God does not revolve around all the great opportunities and choices the first world countries have to offer. It is not measured by the credibility of schools I have had the privilege to attend, a job I always dreamed of, the greatest company I work for, the wonderful church I am honored to be part of or things that I achieved in my life. And it’s definitely not because I have nothing better to do.

My life song is about the God who picked me up right after I lost parents at a very young age, hopeless and homeless. It is about the Most High, the Father of the Fatherless who never left me alone. He was there as I juggled and learned what it was like to figure out life all alone when no one else cared. He is the strength behind my growing up in Rwanda. Through struggles of all kinds, He alone kept me going. He is the Comforter who walked with me through the days I spent in the college campus clinic. Attached to an IV, I could not attend most of my classes because of stomach problems resulting from the genocide against the Tutsi aftermath. Yet I graduated with best grades.

Most of the time, materialistically I had nothing, but Jesus shined through every little thing I possessed to make me look like I was just a regular happy college girl. When I didn’t have food for a couple of days, my physical appearance didn’t change a bit to reflect the starvation. It is God who provided for my siblings when I was a student and didn’t have any income. He was right on time and didn’t let them drop out of school or starve. He was our shelter when we’d have been homeless. It is God who patted my back, and with a soothing voice told me that I was not alone as I prepared for the state exam at the end of high school to qualify for college, when the only door to my promising future seemed to be closing.

“He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor.” 1 Samuel 2: 8

I have done nothing to deserve to make it to this day. My parents and many other nice people didn’t make it to see what I see today: It is GOD’S GRACE, LOVE & MERCY. He is my only REFUGE. “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

My faith in Christ my Savior, is beyond the shadow of doubt. It has been perfected by the pain, suffering, loss, poverty, disappointment, shame. If there is one thing I am so certain about, it is the hands of the TRUE GOD on me. I am very grateful that I don’t have a “to-do list” to be accepted by the Lord. Jesus endured it all, on the cross, on my behalf. And GOD accepts me just the way I am. He Has won my full attention and captured my heart, for all my days.  To this day, what He has done in me is far ENOUGH to ensure me that every promise He made will be fulfilled, in His timing. Because God is not a human being that He should lie. However long it takes, I will wait. Yes, because the one who started the good work in me is capable of bringing it to completion. Until that day comes, I will still pray, love, hope, trust, seek and rely on Him.

This is what keeps me going, even on the worst of my days, when fear cripples me. I don’t have it all figured, but I have GOD.

What is the reason behind your courage, testimony, brevity? If everything else fades, where is your safe refuge? If it’s the true God, cling to Him, you will be truly SAFE in His arms when trials and tribulations come.

God bless you.