Have you ever prayed and wondered why God did not answer your prayer the way you requested it? Have you ever prayed and felt your prayer didn’t get higher than the ceiling? I think these two questions could be answered in the affirmative by anyone who prays often. Both can lead to a feeling of unanswered prayers.
Why are our prayers unanswered? Before we can determine the answer to this question, we must realize that there is a difference between the prayer of a person who is not a true follower of Jesus Christ and one who has truly been saved. There are many who have never repented of their sins and given their lives to Jesus Christ that talk about praying and asking God for something. This person’s prayers are not answered because God does not hear them. In John 9:31 we are taught that those who are not His are not heard. The first step to God answering any prayer is for us to pray the prayer of repentance. There are many verses in the Bible that speak of repenting of our sins and turning to Christ, but I love Romans 10:9-10. We must confess our belief in who Jesus is and repent. Our belief is not just head knowledge it is also heart knowledge. Many people give mental assent to the existence of God, but they have never had a heart knowledge. It is both our heart and head that must be engaged to turn to God and allow Him to be the Lord of our life. Before salvation, we are an enemy of God, and He is not obligated to hear our prayer, but once we become His child, He has a desired obligation to us.
John 9:31 “Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.”
Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
What about Christians? Does God always hear them? According to several verses in the Bible, he doesn’t. This does not mean that He is incapable of hearing them, but that He chooses not to listen. In Psalms 66:18, if I regard iniquity in my heart God will not hear my prayers. Albert Barnes explains it well. “If I have cherished it in my soul; if I have gloated over past sins; if I am purposing to commit sin again; if I am not willing to abandon all sin, and to be holy.” None of us are without sin, but when we realize we are committing sin we are to repent and forsake it. I John 1:9 gives us the remedy for opening communication due to unconfessed sin.
Psalm 66:18 “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”
Isaiah 59:2 “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you, that he will not hear.”
I John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
It may be that you have not forgiven someone. It may be they have something against you, and you don’t believe you have done anything wrong, however, you are still required to go to them. We are to always seek harmony among the brethren.
Matthew 6:14-15 “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
It may be that you say the words, but you truly don’t believe God will answer your prayer. This is an indication you don’t have enough faith. The mustard seed was known to be the smallest of all seeds, yet it produced the largest plant of all herbs. Our faith is always small at the beginning but just like the mustard seed, it should grow greatly as we expand our knowledge and love for Christ.
Matthew 17:20 “And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
It may also be the wrong timing for your answer to be what you want. God knows what we can handle and when we can handle it for His glory. God’s timing is always right, and He will not get ahead of what He knows is best for us. Sometimes we may be waiting, but what we are asking for is not His will, so the answer in the positive may never come. Sometimes we just need to accept that God knows best.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 “To everything, there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.”
The simple answer to having our prayers answered is to check our hearts and make sure we are right with God. From that point, we need to keep praying until we know God has given us an answer. I Thessalonians 5:17 reminds us to pray continually.
I Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”
My desire is to trust God with however He answers my prayer. I want the lines of communication open. I don’t want to wait for an urgent need to find out I have allowed something between me and my Savior.
