
Don’t Just Please Yourself, Please the Creator
by Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
Have you ever stopped to think about why some prayers seem to go unanswered? I mean, really sat with it no distractions, just you and your thoughts. I’ve been there, frustrated and wondering if the Creator was listening at all. But the more I dug into it, the more I realized something: sometimes, the delay isn’t punishment or indifference it’s the Creator putting us on pause because we’re asking all wrong.
Let’s be honest here. A lot of the time, what we’re asking for boils down to one thing: what’s going to make me feel good right now? And don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying life’s little pleasures. The Creator didn’t design us to live a joyless existence. But sometimes, we treat Him like a vending machine, expecting instant results that revolve around our own wants without a second thought about whether they align with what He has planned for us.
I’ll tell you straight I’ve been guilty of this more times than I can count. I’ve prayed for things not because they were good for me, but because I wanted to look like I had it all together. You know, those moments where you just want the world to see you shining, even if it’s all smoke and mirrors? Yeah, I’ve done that. I’ve put my own desires, my pride, and my ego ahead of seeking what the Creator wanted for me. And let me tell you, it didn’t end well.
Here’s the kicker: I didn’t just skip the step of asking the Creator for guidance I ignored it altogether. I would pray and then bulldoze my way forward, thinking I had it all figured out. And worse, I surrounded myself with advice from people who didn’t even have their own connection to the Creator. I mean, how was that supposed to work? Listening to voices that were as lost as I was only led me deeper into the mess I’d created.
And life doesn’t make this any easier. I know firsthand how vividly frustrating it gets when you’re juggling one thing after another trying to figure out how to make payment arrangements for this and that, not knowing how you’re going to handle it because your family needs you. Your car needs repairs, your refrigerator’s empty, and your kids are hungry. Tension builds, and you feel like your back’s against the wall, lost in the noise and chaos of it all. Trust me, I know how hard it is to see or hear the Creator when everything around you feels like it’s falling apart.
In those moments, we look for our own way out. I’ll admit it I’ve done it. It’s human nature to scramble for control when you feel like the ground is slipping beneath your feet. Sometimes it’s nearly impossible to see through the fog of desperation and frustration. That’s when we need people in our corner friends with genuine spiritual connections, people of good faith and integrity who can remind us to hold on, to count it all as joy even when the storm seems unrelenting.
You know what’s wild? In those moments when I thought I was being smart and taking control of my life, I was actually making things harder. We rush so much, don’t we? We’re impatient, we want what we want now, and we convince ourselves that waiting isn’t an option. Faith takes a backseat, and trust? Forget about it. We let our cravings for the here and now block out the bigger picture the Creator is painting for us.
But I’ll be real with you it took hitting rock bottom for me to wake up. I mean, seriously, I had to fall hard. And in that quiet space, when I finally stopped running and let the Creator speak to me, I realized something: not every prayer is meant to be answered the way I want it. Some of those unanswered prayers were blessings wrapped in silence. Some of those delays were the Creator saying, “Not yet. You’re not ready.”
It’s humbling, isn’t it? To sit with the fact that maybe just maybe you don’t know what’s best for you. And when I started looking at my prayers differently, when I asked, “What do You want for me?” instead of “Here’s what I want,” everything began to shift. It wasn’t easy. Trusting a process you can’t see or predict takes guts. But slowly, I started to feel peace in the waiting.
Let’s face it: pleasing ourselves is easy. It’s instinctive. But aligning our lives with the Creator’s will? That’s where the real work begins. And the thing is, the Creator doesn’t withhold good things from us out of cruelty or neglect. He’s always working for our good, even when it doesn’t feel like it in the moment.
So if you’re in a tough spot right now, let me ask you this: have you checked your motives? Are your prayers about pleasing the Creator, or are they just about making life more comfortable for you? It’s a tough question to ask yourself, but it’s worth it. Because the more I’ve let go of my own agenda and surrendered to His, the more I’ve seen His blessings unfold in ways I never could’ve imagined.
Now, don’t think I’m saying I’ve got it all figured out. Far from it. I still mess up. I still get impatient and try to take the wheel sometimes. But I’ve learned to catch myself, to pause and remember that the Creator’s timing is never late. His plans aren’t always easy to understand, but they’re always good.
And if you’re feeling lost or overwhelmed right now, I want to remind you of this: it’s okay to feel that way. It’s okay to admit you’re struggling. But don’t let those feelings isolate you. Find people who will uplift you and remind you of what’s true. People who will point you back to the Creator when your vision gets blurry.
So here’s my advice: stop chasing what only pleases you. Trust the Creator’s process, even when it feels slow or doesn’t make sense. Let go of the need to control everything and open your heart to what He wants to do in your life. When you do that, you’ll find that the peace and joy you’ve been searching for were never tied to getting what you wanted they were always tied to pleasing Him.
And hey, don’t beat yourself up if you’ve been guilty of putting yourself first. I’m right there with you. But the beautiful thing about the Creator is that His grace doesn’t run out. There’s always room to start fresh, to realign, and to choose Him over yourself. You’ve got this and He’s with you every step of the way.
The artwork visually represents the themes of the reflection, portraying a journey from chaos to divine alignment. The jagged, chaotic patterns at the bottom reflect the frustrations and struggles of life financial strain, familial obligations, and moments of feeling lost. These elements are painted in darker, bolder shades to symbolize uncertainty and tension.
As your eyes move upward, the composition transitions into more fluid, harmonious forms, blending radiant purple and soft white hues that evoke divine guidance and peace. The interconnected streams of golden yellow and emerald green signify the Creator’s presence and the hope that arises when we realign our desires with divine will. The swirling motion throughout the piece reflects the dynamic relationship between personal will and spiritual surrender, while the glowing highlights capture the beauty of transformation and grace.
This abstract image brings to life the message of seeking divine purpose over personal gratification, illustrating how surrendering to the Creator can transform life’s chaos into clarity and harmony.

Kateb Nuri-Alim Shunnar
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