Unanswered Prayer

Born again children of God who know the Bible expect to get their prayers answered. (See Why Prayer?) Yet the truth is that we frequently don’t get everything we ask for. So what is going on? Does God pick and choose what He says “yes” to according to some unknowable criteria? If so, how can we remain faithful to keep asking, since it can be so “hit and miss?” It is discouraging to keep failing at anything, and the apparent silence of our Heavenly Father on a matter can cause one to question what they believe. How do we deal with this situation?

Consider this: American major league baseball players hit the ball to take a base on average only once every 4 times at bat. NBA players sink less than half the shots they take. NHL players nail only 1 out of 10 shots on the goal. All of these professionals miss more times than they make it! Why do they keep shooting? Because they might actually make it. Because in their persistent effort they might actually improve their personal percentages. Also, with a team of likeminded pros behind them, they believe that they can accomplish a win in spite of their personal failings.

The Bible says that God knows our needs before we ask Him. It also says that God is much better at responding to our requests than any earthly parent. That is, He knows how to give good gifts! The Bible explains that God wants us to ask and receive. He doesn’t enjoy fruitless prayer any more than we do. And it is absolutely OK to ask for things we want versus just things we need. (See Mark 11:24)

So laying all the usual lies and excuses aside, we can be confident that there are legitimate reasons for it when a prayer request goes unanswered. The Bible gives us several reasons to consider.

For example, prayer just to satisfy some worldly lust is not going to be answered (not by God anyway!). That is prayer contrary to God’s will as revealed both in the Bible and by conscience. Prayer that is not in faith yields nothing either. A persistence of faith – a tenacity that stands firm until one gets what God promised – is critical if one is to receive some things.

Let us be confident that if we do our part, God will certainly hold up His end. He wants us to pray, as this is a way that God enforces His will in this realm. We need to learn to pray well, doing it the way Jesus said to do it. You will learn to stop wasting your time, start seeing answers… and your joy will grow!
(Matthew 6:5-8, Luke 11:5-13, James 4:3, Mark 11:24, Psalm 84:11, John 16:24, Luke 12:32, James 1:6-8, Hebrews 6:12, Luke 18:1-8, Matthew 6:10)