The title is bold. It reflects a struggle, a disappointment, and a familiar one at that. I had long waited for this book to release, hoping it would give me a few new tools to help the people I counsel. I don’t know that it gave me those new tools, exactly, but it did give me fresh ways to explore disappointment with the Lord and cultivating faith in longing. Through the lens of the Apostle Paul’s own faith struggle, Ste Casey provides despondent souls a framework for fighting for faith.
As part of New Growth Press’s Ask the Christian Counselor Series, this small book is aimed at providing spiritual counsel. In that regard it is theologically rich but focused on practical application. The book aims to give meaningful direction to people in spiritually dry and discouraging seasons. Casey is a pastor in the UK and a counselor, having served previously at CCEF in Philadelphia. He demonstrates his wisdom, Biblical knowledge, and discipleship care in this book.
The book’s self-described goal is to give readers a sense that God is up to something in the silence. That, in fact, unanswered prayers are “a vital part of the Lord’s dealings with his people” (8). Unanswered prayers are part of the way that God sanctifies us, and helps us to grow, and helps us to experience more of who He really is. The book’s eight chapters spell out what God is up to in the seeming silence of an unanswered prayer. He is working, keeping, giving, hearing, speaking, supplying, and abiding. When we get these concepts, Casey says, we will change our language from “I prayed and nothing happened” to “I prayed and everything changed” – the final chapter of the book.
The book makes this point largely by focusing on one small section of Scripture, though many other verses and passages are referenced throughout. Through Paul’s account of his thorn in the flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) readers are taken on a spiritual journey of wrestling with sorrow, receiving no answer from God, embracing the process of growth, and rejoicing in what God does through thorny situations. If that outline feels simplistic it is only because we have not dug deep into the riches of Paul’s words. I was shocked by how deep Casey is able to dive into these verses and how richly he applies them. I have used this passage in counseling for decades. I believe I have used it well and, in my foolishness, I believed I had understood the depth of the text. But Casey opened it up in a fresh way. I was thrilled to plum new depths to one of my favorite passages of Scripture.
Perhaps most surprising to me was that in reading this book in order to sharpen my counseling skills I was personally encouraged. I was not expecting that this book would meet me where I am with disappointments. It encouraged me. It exposed my divided heart. It reoriented me towards Jesus. I have been personally blessed by I Prayed and Nothing Changed. I cannot recommend it highly enough.
There are a few books that I would recommend to nearly everyone regardless of their struggles: Gospel Treason by Brad Bigney; Angry with God by Brad Hambrick; Gentle & Lowly by Dane Ortlund. These are books that have been powerful and effective in discipling others. I would add I Prayed and Nothing Changed to that list. Here is a book that everyone can relate to and which has the potential to help many discouraged souls.
Sparrow & Heart Soul Care 