Shauna Letellier
About the Author

Shauna Letellier is the author of Remarkable Hope: When Jesus Revived Hope in Disappointed People. With her husband Kurt, she has the wild and hilarious privilege of raising three boys along the banks of the Missouri River where they fish swim and rush off to ballgames.

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(in)side DaySpring:
things we love
& you will too!
Find more at
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  1. Oh, how I love this post, and I am also one of those “complain pray-ers,” giving God instructions on how He could work according to my will on any given subject. I’m learning to be thankful for this sovereign goodness, expressed in ways I could not have “advised” and to enjoy the feeling of being “reverently startled” by his provision when it shows up–usually in ways I could not have predicted.

    • So thankful He has tended to you in those ways, Michele! I guess God has kind of a long history of tending to “complain-prayers” 😉
      I’m so grateful he transforms our “complaints” into praise!!

  2. I too complain-pray or sometimes offer “instructional” prayers. He is patient and kind with me and offers me good gifts and wonderful surprises never on my timetable. These often test my patience and trust but He always comes through.

  3. God is so kind to answer our “complain-prayers!” Love that He wowed you with His perfect provision so early in marriage and mothering too.

  4. In 2017 we knew that eventually our 1990 Toyota (purchased new at the end of 1989) would have to be replaced. We had money set aside in a specific fund. In the beginning of 2017 our mechanic had a 2006 Toyota on his lot that he was selling for a customer who was no longer able to drive. The cost was a lot less than we had set aside for a new car. Even though some other people expressed interest in the car, our mechanic (who was a high school classmate of my husband and I) told other people that it was spoken for. I firmly believe that God had His hand in this situation; we didn’t have to search for a car and the price was a big plus also. I am definitely enjoying driving that car! And since we purchased it from our mechanic I can also feel comfortable knowing that he will be able to keep it maintained for us the way he did the other car.

  5. I feel the same way. I am really struggling today. I am a single mom & have been, not by choice, for 12 years. My ex left when our youngest was a baby. He left for another woman. I was still & still am willing to work on our relationship. The relationship he had with the girlfriend lasted 5 years. My ex husband became a Christian 3 years ago. I was extatic thinking that we would be back together because God so sweetly saved me, my ex & our 2 children. It hasn’t happend & I am thinking my ex is now taking to that same girlfriend again. Because the restoration prayer hasn’t been answered I forget about the prayer for my ex’s salvation. Oh Lord please forgive me for forgetting your good works & letting this situation with my ex and this girl get me so down & out. You know my hearts desire Lord, you put it there. I know you hear our prayers, please provide what my family needs. Amen

    • Dawn,
      Thanks for sharing your deep and difficult disappointment. I am praying for you and with you tonight. I’m also rejoicing with you that God has extended his saving grace you your family.

  6. My later Grandmother this will make you guys laugh. Used to say she was a Christian. The poor Lord must get tired hearing all our prayers having us asking him to do this and this for us. I do think we don’t stop as Christian to thank God enough when he does answer our prayers. Sometimes he says No to what we want as he knows in the end No is best. When months down the road when we look back at what we ask God to do and he didn’t do it. Then say God I am glad You didn’t do it or answer that prayer or give me what I wanted. No matter how disappointed I was at the time. Your know it was best. You always know what is best for Me. You God have large shoulders and big ears to listen to all our prayers. Thank you Lord for not getting tired of listening to all our prayers. Thank you for answering them in the way that is right for us. Not in the way we like you too as you know what best for us all. Thank you for the people Lord who right these reading bless them all. Love Dawn xxx

  7. Shauna,

    It never ceases to amaze me how God answers prayers. Lysa Terkeurst said in her book “It’s Not Supposed to be This Way: “Disappointment isn’t proof that God is withholding good things from us. Sometimes it’s His way of leading us home.” We are living in the messy middle between two Edens. In this place we will have trials & tribulations. “The piercing angst of disappointment in everything on this side of eternity creates a discontent with this world & pushes us to long for God Himself. That is why God allows trials. His glory will be magnified when He answers our prayers in ways we never expected. We learn to trust Him more. We must remember: God longs to help me, God longs to transform me & God loves me. Psalm 40:1-2 is great scripture “I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me & heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, & set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He always hears our prayers & pleas. We must learn to be patient & wait upon the Lord. He will work in His perfect timing. Jesus waited 3 days to go to the home of Mary & Martha. He cried with the people there even though He was going to raise Lazarus. He does this to make it known that He feels & understands our pains. He wants the glory all for the Father.

    I highly recommend Lysa Terkeurst’s book & study “It’s Not Supposed to be this Way”. She talks about going through infidelity with hubby, having a distended abdomen & getting breast cancer. She explains how she got through all that.

    Blessings 🙂

  8. Oh, how sweet and patient and gracious our Savior is. Thank you for sharing your story, Shauna.

  9. What a inspiration your words are Shauna.
    I have prayed and waited impatiently, and three prayers of mine were answered in the last year. My wife, a type 2 diabetic resisted going to the doctor for years, all the while knowing she needed to start insulin. One day a couple of months ago, she decided it was time and has been on insulin since. I prayed for years, and God answered my prayer.
    I also prayed that she would join me at church, even though she is not a Christian like me. One day last month I asked her if she would like to go with me to church, and she said yes. She has been going since, though I still pray she will turn to Jesus.
    We do indeed need to be so ever patient with God as he is always listens, and surprises us when we least expect it!!

  10. Dearest Shauna,
    Thank you for continuing to share about His goodness. Please keep pointing us to our Father’s goodness. I have filled many journals with reminders of His provisions, stuffed folders with notes recalling His faithful supplying. Why do I doubt when it comes to new challenges? I forget! Thank you for sharing your stories so we can be encouraged to remember ours! “Thank you, Lord!”

  11. I love this Shauna. Such a beautiful story of God’s faithfulness and kindness. As always, thank you for your words!

  12. Absolutely right on target! I have to forward this post to my Church family. Thank you for being a complain-pray-er. We all do it. And we KNOW better, but we just can’t fathom the depths of His mercies and His provisions. HIS timing is not OUR timing, but boy do we think it should be!
    I think I need to borrow one of your big boy beds and set it up so I can remember along with you!
    Bless you for this post!
    Praise God!