Why God Sometimes Doesn't Answer Prayer

I believe in prayer.  Because prayer works.  Simple right.

 

But sometimes I have prayed fervently and well, Nothing!

 

Howcum?

 

I heard an awfully good teaching the other day.  I want to share it.  I think it says better than I could why Prayer sometime isn't answered.  And, if we Trust God, it's good that it's not.

 

1.  Sometimes the answer to your prayer would be the wrong time.  Seems like God is always working in the fullness of time.  He doesn't do things when we want him to.  He does things when he wants to according to his purpose.  So, if we pray for snow in July, it could happen but it's probably the wrong time.  Before Jesus was born, people prayed for the Messiah to come.  But only when the time was right did he come.  Now people are praying for him to come back.  He will, but only when the time is right.  Sometimes a person is praying for a mate, time, time and time.

 

2.  You are not ready to receive the answer to the prayer you pray.  Consider a 20 year old young man praying fervently to win the lottery.  If he did it could ruin him.  Or perhaps it's to get a better Job, that's good, but if he did maybe he wouldn't be ready to execute the work and would fail.  Pray and prepare.  When you are ready he will answer.  Particularly as it comes to money, he is looking for people thru which he can channel great wealth into the kingdom, people who have wisdom and discernment and aren't suckered in by every sob story.  God wants to bless such a person who is generous and Kingdom minded.

 

3.  The answer will hurt you (or others).  If you are in the habit of throwing rocks thru the windows of cars and you develop bursitis, praying for God to heal your bursitis so you can throw rocks again isn't gonna happen.  There are consequences for the answers to prayers.  They are known by God.  Some prayers if they were answered as you asked could do damage to others. 

 

4.  Sometimes God says NO because he has something better for you.  A house doesn't sell, he has a better buyer, a job interview falls thru, he has a better Job, A business fails, he has a new and better opportunity.  His plans are perfect and you can trust him even when he says no.  The better is coming.  I have experienced this one lots of times.

 

5.  Heaven is better.  Sometimes we pray fervently for a loved one not to die, and then they die.  Did God fail?  Nope.  We need to understand, heaven is better.  Better for them, better for you.  Sometime God makes things come to pass that seem painful for the time, loss, hurt, pain.  God isn't making a mistake.  He is doing his perfect will.  If a person is healed, all praise belongs to Jesus.  If he dies all Glory goes to him.

 

So, trust God.  The bad news is he's all you really have in the end.  The good news is, he's all you really need.