UNANSWERED PRAYER

First, let me make this one point. There is no such thing as unanswered prayer. What many people call unanswered prayer is when God doesn’t answer their prayers in the way they want him to.

In response to our prayers, sometimes God says, “No.” Sometimes God says, “Wait.” Sometimes God says, “It depends.” Sometimes God says, “I didn’t hear you.” Sometimes God probably even says, “Are you joking me?” There are many different answers God might give to our prayers, but make no mistake about it—God answers them all in his own way.

So why might God not hear your prayers, or answer your prayers in the way you want him to? Let’s explore that question. Here are a few answers to the question.

SIN IN YOUR LIFE

Sometimes our prayers are not heard or answered because we’re living in sin, and won’t repent.  Isaiah 59:1-2 – Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.  2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. You don’t have to be perfect for God to answer your prayers, but if you are living in deliberate defiance, refusing to repent, then God will not answer. In fact, this text reveals that God doesn’t even hear your prayers when you’re living in defiance to his will. What is implied is that he ignores your requests.

UNFORGIVING SPIRIT

You may have an unforgiving spirit toward someone that is obstructing your prayers.  Mark 11:25 – And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. As long as you are nursing bitterness or an unforgiving spirit the power of prayer is limited in your life.

COVENANT BREAKING IN MARRIAGE

I Peter 3:7 – Husbands, be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. It is sad to think that many marriages are not healed simply because one or both spouses are not as considerate and respectful to one another as they should be.

LACK OF FAITH

The belief that God will answer the prayers that you pray is foundational to getting your prayers answered. James made this point clear:  James 1:6-8 -- But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

NOT GOD’S WILL

I John 5:14 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us. We should all be careful not to ask God for things that would clearly violate his will as stated in the Bible, and we should all pray that God’s will be done instead of our own.

THE TIMING IS NOT RIGHT

Jesus delayed in answering Martha and Mary’s prayer for their brother in John 11, so that God would be glorified in Lazarus’ death when Jesus raised him from the dead. Sometimes we want immediate relief, but God may want us to wait because he is molding and developing something within us that just takes time.

WRONG MOTIVES

James 4:3 – When you ask you do not receive because you ask with the wrong motive that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. The request may be appropriate, but the motive may be totally selfish, and God knows it’s not going to be good for us, or maybe even for others.

LACK OF INTENSITY

James 5:16 – The fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Sometimes prayer is so casual, so lazy, and so perfunctory that it’s meaningless.  That’s why the Bible tells us to persist in fervent prayer.

A good understanding of all these points should help all of us in our prayer life. --Steve