I recently heard a sermon in which the preacher said God always answers prayers in one of three ways: Yes, No, or Wait. As I considered his sermon points, I began to think about how all the times I felt that I wasn’t getting an answer to my prayers. I know that prayer works because I can recall several times when something happened, which I know was an answer to prayer. Skeptics would attribute this to happenstance or that maybe I acted in such a way that my prayers came to fruition. Skeptics would point to the fact that some prayers seemingly go unanswered, but do they? I understand that to address this subject completely would take more than just a simple blog post such as this. There have been whole books written on the subject. I am sure there have been series of books written on the subject of prayer. My purpose in writing this post is not to address all aspects of prayer but maybe invoke some introspection about prayer and perhaps garner some answers from those more experienced in this subject.
LA LA LA LA LA LA
Have you ever tried to talk to a child who did not want to hear what you said? They might cover their ears and try to block out what you are saying. They may make nonsensical noise like the title for this section. Are we like that child trying to block out the answer we don’t want to hear? Jonah didn’t like what he heard from God and ended up in the belly of a whale. You might say that you aren’t like a petulant child. Are you any better than Jonah, who behaved like a petulant child? Before you get sanctimonious about me comparing Jonah to a child, read Jonah chapter 4.
We would be wise to remember Proverbs 28:9: He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. When we try to turn our ears away from God’s instruction, our prayers are an abomination. So when you decide you don’t want to hear what God has to say about how you live your life, why should you be surprised that he doesn’t answer prayer how you desire? Don’t despair, though; God gives us the promise that he is merciful:
It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23)
The same mercy that God showed to Nineveh can also be ours. We need to humbly confess that we have been like that petulant child and repent (turn away from the sin and turn to God), and he will show us the mercy he wants to show. We may not like the answer or God’s instruction for us, but we need to realize that His will is the best course for our lives.
Looking for Spectacular Answers
Sometimes we expect God to act in miraculous ways in answer to our prayer. I think of Elijah when he was in a cave depressed because he thought he was alone following God’s will, and Jezebel sought his life. If you think that you can’t get depressed remember, a lot of God’s prophets suffered from bouts of depression. God sent a great wind, but was not in the wind; He sent an earthquake, but he was not in the earthquake; He sent fire, but he was not in the fire; ” and after the fire a still small voice. ” (1 Kings 19:11-12) We often look for God’s answers in some spectacular form. However, God moves in ways that we do not see. We are not always the center of God’s solution. God had preserved another 7,000 faithful in Israel. We don’t always see how God will answer our prayers.
We don’t have to be the ones to accomplish His will. We often want to see the results of our prayers immediately. That is the consequence of the immediate fulfillment we experience in the modern world. Remember, though, God’s timing is always perfect and is not always accomplished through a fiery display. I dare say that sometimes we want to be able to say that we accomplished something. Perhaps that is why God chooses not to use us at times: We would become puffed up with pride over what WE did instead of recognizing that God is the one who accomplishes His will. What is more important: that God’s will is done or that we are the ones who bring it about?
I would also include in this section that sometimes we ARE how God wants to accomplish his will. But, do we do anything to fulfill our prayer? You want a job, but are you doing everything that you can do to get a job? You want a relationship, but are you open to all the possibilities for a relationship? You want somebody to be saved, but when is the last time you were a witness to them? Sometimes, we need to put some legs on our prayers to see them come to fruition. We pray for our daily bread, but does that preclude us from doing anything to get that food? We need to take action in faith to see the answers to our prayers.
Better not to ask
I watched a Christian movie in which one of the characters confessed that he did not ask God for anything for himself when he prayed. He had suffered a great disappointment in his life where God did not answer the prayer as he wanted. As a result, he was angry with God. He reasoned that you couldn’t be angry with someone who doesn’t exist. So, he decided rather than be disappointed with God’s answers; he would not ask for anything for himself. I could pull out James here and say, “ye have not because ye ask not.” However, I think it is more practical to point out that God desires to answer our prayers.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
Sometimes, the only thing that we have in answer to our prayers is peace with what happens. Once again, we don’t always get the desired answer, but God gives us what we need. I recall when my mother, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, passed away. A brother in Christ noted how quickly she passed. Those of you familiar with the disease know that many times the people with Alzheimer’s linger for a long time suffering from the effects of diminished capacity. I did take her to church for a while before she became too incapacitated to go at all. I could have lamented how unfair it was that she suffered from the disease at all. However, I choose to look at the mercy God showed through her passing. Though it was quick comparatively, it was paced sufficiently to allow us to come to terms with her passing. She did not suffer needlessly, and she is now in a much better place.
If we look beyond what our own desires might be in a situation, we can sometimes see the mercies of God working in our lives. If a Christian person is healed, it is only temporary because we all will die one day. If a person survives a horrific accident, will that person become embittered by the injuries and debilitations they endure as a result? We might wish to see them survive, but what if their survival means an estranged relationship as a result? We don’t know why God allows things to happen, but we should look for His mercies in every situation. We should still make our supplications known but accept the mercies that He does grant to us.
Ye ask amiss
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (James 4:3)
This verse points out that sometimes we ask for something that God does not give because it fulfills our lust. Lust is an overwhelming desire to satisfy our flesh. Typically, lust is sexual in nature. However, in this context, it could be any fleshly desire. Too many times, people equate prayer with rubbing a bottle and being granted a wish from a genie. How many people pray to win the lottery every week? If they won, what would they do with the money? Some might do some good works with a little bit of money. However, the vast majority of the money would be consumed in “riotous living.” Lottery winnings finance dreams of cars, mansions, boats, and exotic vacations, usually with an entourage of “friends” willing to help spend money.
“God, if you would just let me have that girl/guy for a mate, I would be happy.” How many times has that prayer been sent toward heaven? This is simple carnality. Often, when the desired relationship begins through no intervention of the Holy, lives are destroyed because the basis was not holy at all but purely sensual. We might protest that we are lonely and want companionship. However, how many times have eyes been turned aside by another pretty face or strong shoulder?
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
We need to put God first. Before we start looking for satisfaction through the world, we need to satisfy God with our lives. The Bible does say that a man who finds a wife finds a good thing. (Proverbs 18:22) A wife, or husband, should not be the object of our desires. When a marriage helps both be better Christians, then God has blessed the couple with a fulfilling relationship under His design. The objective should be to serve God better.
I have listed several reasons that we might not hear or see an answer to our prayer, but there are others. These are just some that I was able to reason out in this short blog posting. I don’t have all the answers as to why God allows some things but not others. His wisdom is greater than ours. Does that mean we should not pray? By no means. We should share our lives with God. We need to share our thoughts and desires with him and ask him to help us bring those thoughts and desires in line with His own. I do ask you include me in your prayers. Ask Him if it is His will that I continue with this blog that he might bless my efforts and allow me to see some fruit. My desire is to communicate what I think He would have me share in a thought-provoking and reassuring way.
May God bless and keep you.