Does It Seem That God Does Not Always Answer Our Prayers?

My heart hurts when I see the prayers of the faithful to God, not answered. The ones we love whose needs are great. Or, has He answered them? I have been moved, by my own questions, as to what and how we should go before God with our petitions, our needs and wants, in prayer. There is so much scripture on God answering all of our prayers. But we seem to pick just the scriptures that seem to tell us what we want to hear and just stop there and not search to what else He is saying about answering these prayers. It is almost like that it is all we want to hear, and no more. How many go before God and demand, even command Him, to give them what they are asking for? How many actually believe that God must answer their prayers because He has said He will answer them all as we want? That is NOT what the Lord is saying and it is a perversion of His Word. Consider these Word's of the Lord that are used so often in our understanding of the Lord's faithfulness in answering our prayers: "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we ask of Him." (1 John 5:14). There are two Word's in this verse that seem to be overlooked, or just omitted...HIS WILL! Not ours. Prayers will be answered if they are His Will, His purpose. And that is what we must seek. I have often asked myself, why does God sometimes not answer our prayers? And, why is our faith and trust in Him shaken? Why do some turn their back on God and even walk away from Him at these times? There have been so many prayers that are clearly out of His Will. Some that are a deep plea before Him for sincere needs and rescue. This can be a hard thing to answer, especially when we have been taught that it is His will to answer all our prayers, our petitions, if we only have faith. But, are we always being taught the truths of God’s Word when going before Him with our needs and desires. How can a minister, pastor, or teacher be wrong? There is one important thing the Lord is telling us in understand His Word. Understanding the truths of His Word does not come by man. Man can teach us His Word, but not the deep understandings of it. “These are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.” (1Corinthians 2:10). The Spirit of God is the only one who knows the thoughts of God, the deep things of God, the understanding of God. As committed believers, the Spirit of God is within us! And as such, it is by His Spirit in us to which understanding of His Word is established. This is where there is a separation of what man teaches us, and God teaches us. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). “His Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16). His Spirit teaches us ALL things. This is where the understanding of God’s Will and purpose in our lives are revealed. In His Word, by His Holy Spirit. How should this effect our understanding of why, or why not, our prayers are answered? Because He will lead us in our petitions to him, that is, what to ask of Him, by His Spirit showing our spirit His Will for us in our individual lives. And what He wants us to seek, and not seek, is throughout His Word, if we would just look. But we must look to His Word, scripture, to learn what He is saying. It is there! But, are we all going before God and asking Him to show us His truths, His Will? Are we willing to surrender what we want for what He wants for us? Do we have that kind of trust and faith in Him? If we don’t, then we should look into ourselves as to why, and cease form blaming God for being unfaithful to His Word. “God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should repent; Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good.” (Numbers 23:19). He will always be faithful to His Word, but do we understand His Word, His Will, and are we truly seeking it above our own? These are tough questions we must honestly ask ourselves, and put aside our misunderstandings of His Word, and be willing to accept His, and completely trust in Him in all ways and all things.









When I pray for a believer that is going tough such hard times, whether it be health, relationships, or finances, etc, ,and He has seemed to say ’no’, or ‘not at this time’, is it because He is being unfaith to His Word? Or is it because I don’t understand all that He is telling me. There are many reasons for how He is answering us. And, are we willing to listen to Him. Yes, His ways are above our ways. But that doesn’t mean He will not show us His ways if we would only ask Him and seek the truths of His Word. We must always be willing to accept His Will, His answer to our prayers, and completely surrender to Him in all things with trust and faith in Him. I truly believe that God wants us to be happy, to have joy in our lives. But I also believe that these are found in His Will for us; in His purpose. I also believe that His Will for us is greater than anything we can ask for or understand. If we just let Him.









Does the Lord answer all our prayers? Consider this: The Lord said that we were known before creation. "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet for all the nations." (Jeremiah 1:5). "And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; And while they are speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24).




If everything about us was already known, then our prayers themselves were also known, and answered, by His divine knowledge, will and purpose for each of us. Yes, our prayers are always answered. But are we praying for what He wants for us? If not, then He answered with 'no'. He has something greater for us to seek of Him. Are we able to trust Him in all faith, and put His Will for us above our own desires? Surrender all to Him? Remember this: they enemy knows each believers weakness and he WILL sift you out! Doubt and denial of God's Word and His faithfulness to it comes from the enemy, and so does seeking in our lives things that are not of God. We must also be aware of the 'false counsel' of the world.









As far as our own, individual, understanding of these things, that is between ourselves and God. I pray that we all will seek His truths in everything. This is the foundation of our personal relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. I believe it is the most important search in our lives. I pray that this will assist you, as you seek understanding in our answers to our prayers. And that we all will continue in our search for His truths.









If we seek God , He promises this: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3).














1 John 5:14) "And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His Will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of Him."









Your comments are always welcomed and encouraged.




Psalm 34:3 "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." (KJV)