Have you found yourself questioning why your prayers seem to go unanswered? You’re not alone. Many people struggle with this same feeling of disappointment and confusion when it comes to prayer.
Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers?
A question that never fails to make me wonder; If it is God’s will for me to write a book, then why didn’t it happen the first time I prayed? After all, it was His big idea in the first place and not mine.
For years, I have been praying, and it feels like nothing is changing. Maybe you’ve experienced this too. Sometimes I feel ignored by God. And by sometimes, I mean oftentimes. Over and over again, I pray, asking in persistence for the same request. Day by day, week by week pleading, Can you please heal, so and so? Lord, lead me to the right literary agent. Please give me Godly wisdom. This is my only shortlist of requests.
My prayer time begins with a lot of thank you’s followed by a lot of praises. This isn’t me, buttering up God, before I get down to business. This is me, remembering everything He has already done for me. If Satan had his way, he would continually pressure me to believe that my prayers were not heard and that God doesn’t care for my every need.
I do have to say, wouldn’t it be awesome, if, after every prayer, God would send you a text with a thumbs-up emoji acknowledging your prayer was heard? I’d even be okay with seeing a green light flash on my phone for a few minutes, indicating that God is working on my requests. But instead, it can feel as if we are delivering our spoken words into an abyss.
I’ve been Holy-Ghosted
It can be difficult when time passes and our most urgent prayers remain unanswered. It gives us the impression that we are experiencing a spiritual abandonment or more like we have been holy-ghosted. Even David felt this way and questioned God in Psalms 22:1-2.
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.”
Take note when I tell you that the Bible wholeheartedly assures us that God hears every prayer and He is not ignoring us. Jesus’ action at the cross confirms He would never leave us, nor forsake us. God’s love hand delivered us from sin through Christ’s crucifixion. His demonstration proves how far He would go to keep His promise.
Our God, who kept His promise then, is the same God who hears and answers our prayers now. Amen!
The Key To Prayer
There is no secret when it comes to the most important element of prayer. It’s having trust. God loves you and He loves me. This means He wants what is best for us. Occasionally, our prayers receive swift answers, while other times they are delayed and answered differently than expected.
God doesn’t do what we ask every time, because He loves us! He knows our future. Our prayers, if answered, may not result in what is best for us. Jesus explains this in pure Jesus fashion in Luke 11:11 after His disciples asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Luke 11:1.
“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”
Consider the meaning behind His words.
If my kids asked me if they could have ice cream for dinner, I wouldn’t turn around and serve them a cone full of snakes. That would be ridiculous. I probably would tell them “no” instead. Unless, of course, we were visiting the Penn State Berkey Creamery. Then everyone would be eating ice cream; not just for dinner, but for breakfast and lunch also; because parents love to make their kids happy.
This is how our Heavenly Father works. He wants to bless us. Now, if our kids asked for a cone full of snakes and not a cone full of ice cream. We would say “No way”. What is the purpose of saying this? Because we love our kids and we know it would not be in their best interest.
We should be thankful for both answered and unanswered prayers. I truly appreciate that God has gone before us, knows the exact amount of hair on our heads, and is working things out for those who are called according to His purpose.
Don’t Give Up Hope
Just because it has been a few weeks, months, or maybe years (like me), it doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel. God teaches us through our persistence. Faith building happens in the presence of facing a giant mountain. It is in the valleys where we grow the most.
If it wasn’t for my twelve years of blogging (Yes, twelve!) I wouldn’t have had the slightest clue about building another website (the one you are reading from now). He prepared me for what was ahead.
The Bible recounts a story of a Canaanite woman who persistently sought Jesus’ help for her daughter who was possessed by a demon (Matthew 15:21-28). When she initially asked for help, Jesus didn’t respond. Then the second time, He responded to her request with a statement. He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
Then the woman persisted, this time kneeling before Him, and said, “Lord, help me.” Jesus further states, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” Even though this sounds harsh, Jesus was not rejecting the Canaanite woman. He was simply explaining to her that the Jews had the first opportunity to accept the Messiah. After all, they had been waiting the longest for His arrival.
I love this woman and the way she replied to Jesus. “Yes, it is Lord. Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table” What she meant is that some of the blessings can be extended to her. A Canaanite woman, labeled as a gentil.
Jesus then said, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” Jesus meets the needs of those who are desperate for His help. Let our faith in Christ be the encouragement we need to be persistent.
Let’s Pray Together
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for your grace and mercy. We praise you for our ability to communicate openly and without barriers. Help us to not resort to made-up theories about our unanswered prayers. For we know when we come to you, you hear us and want what is best for us. Lord, we trust you; we love you and we know you are working things out even when we can’t see them.
In this, we ask in your precious name, Jesus. Amen!
Read More on Jen Schreiner
- How to Move Forward When You Feel Stuck
- Recognizing Our True Enemy: A Call to Focus on Faith
- The Power of Godly Friendships – 5 Key Qualities
- Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayers
- 5 Astonishing Facts About God
This was perfect and helpful indeed 👍