Does God Answer Every Prayer? Study #2:

[David]

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Some prayers rise from the deepest places of a believer’s heart and still seem to fall to the ground unanswered. A child is sick. A marriage is breaking. A door we begged God to open stays shut. We asked in faith, we pleaded with tears, and the answer we wanted never came. What then?

Scripture never pretends every request will be granted exactly as we framed it. It speaks with clear eyes about refused prayers, delayed answers, and requests that were reshaped by a wiser Father.

Jesus Himself prayed in Gethsemane, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39, KJV). He asked specifically. He repeated the request. Yet the cup was not removed. The Father’s will stood, and the Son submitted. Being heard by God did not mean escaping the cross. That is why biblical prayer can say, “Father, this is what I am asking for, but Your will is more important than mine.” That is not weak faith. That is exactly how Jesus prayed.

Paul learned the same lesson. He pleaded three times for the thorn in his flesh to be taken away. The Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV). The thorn remained. The grace was given. Paul stopped demanding removal and began boasting in the weakness that made Christ’s power rest on him.

Moses begged to enter the land. God said no (Deuteronomy 3:23-27). David fasted and lay on the ground for his dying child. The child still died (2 Samuel 12:15-23). Those passages should keep us from making the shallow claim that every denied prayer simply means someone “did not have enough faith.” Scripture does not teach that. Sometimes God says no.

Jesus also said, “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13, KJV). Some people read that as though adding the words “in Jesus’ name” to the end of a prayer guarantees that God must give us whatever we requested. But the rest of Scripture does not allow us to turn prayer into a blank check. Prayer is not a way of getting God to approve our desires. Biblical prayer is not about convincing God to carry out our will. We bring our requests before Him while submitting ourselves to His will.

Jesus made the condition even clearer in John 15:7: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” Notice what comes first: “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you.” As Christ’s words shape our hearts, they also begin shaping what we ask for. The closer our desires are brought under the Word of God, the less prayer becomes about getting our way and the more it becomes about seeking His.

James gives one clear reason some prayers go unanswered: “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts” (James 4:3, KJV). Selfish motives close the ear of heaven. Psalm 66:18 adds another: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” This does not mean we must become sinlessly perfect before we can pray. If that were the requirement, none of us could come before God. The issue is regarding iniquity in the heart—it is knowingly holding onto sin rather than turning from it. An unforgiving spirit (Mark 11:25) and a heart that refuses to hear God’s law (Proverbs 28:9) also hinder prayer.

Yet not every delayed or denied request proves hidden sin. Job’s friends made that cruel mistake. Sometimes the Father simply has a better purpose than the one we can see. First John 5:14-15 anchors our confidence: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.” The promise is not that every desire will be fulfilled. The promise is that every request offered in submission to His will is heard.

Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6, KJV). Ask specifically. Ask persistently. Ask with thanksgiving. Scripture tells us to do those things. But never treat prayer as a demand.

God’s prior knowledge does not make prayer pointless. Jesus said the Father already knows what we need, then immediately taught us to ask (Matthew 6:8-13). His sovereignty does not cancel the command to pray. His wisdom simply means the final shape of the answer belongs to Him.

So we keep praying. We ask specifically. We ask persistently. We ask with thanksgiving. And we leave the outcome in the hands of the Father who gave His Son for us. The cross proves He does not withhold out of stinginess. If He gave His best gift, we can trust Him with every lesser request.

When you pray, are you truly seeking God’s will, or are you mainly asking Him to approve yours? Are there desires or sins you are unwilling to surrender? Are Christ’s words abiding in you and shaping the things you ask Him for? And when God does not give you what you requested, will you still trust Him?

The unanswered prayer is not always a closed door. Sometimes it is the place where we learn that God’s “No” or “Not yet” is still an act of love.

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Key Scriptures to Hold Onto for Today​

Matthew 26:39 (KJV)“O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

John 15:7 (KJV)“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.”

John 14:13 (KJV)“And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

1 John 5:14 (KJV)“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us.”

Philippians 4:6 (KJV)“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”

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[David]

One other verse that jumps out at me regarding prayer is Daniel 9.

Daniel was reading Jeremiah and realized that God had already decreed that the captivity would be seventy years. Daniel knew what God had said He was going to do. What did Daniel do?

“And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes” (Daniel 9:3, KJV).

That should tell us something. Daniel knowing God’will didn’t stop him from praying. It led him to pray. He wasn’t trying to persuade God to change His mind. His prayer was in response to what God had revealed in His Word.

I believe that is where we often have prayer reversed. We start to think that prayer is mostly about trying to get God to do what we want. Daniel shows us it is something different. The Word of God molded his prayer, and his prayer aligned his heart to what God had said.

That goes along with the idea that, “if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us” (1 John 5:14, KJV).

The more we know God’ Word the more it should mold our requests from Him.

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning,

I get asked this question amongst Christians, "Doesn't God answer every prayer?" Example, Scriptures will be presented to me, Matthew 6:33, 7:7-8, 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14 and 15:7 as their argument.

This study points to several key areas. It's easy to see only one side of the prayer request, but we tend to overlook God who sees the ulterior motive.

I'm reminded of Jeremiah 12's complaint to God. He knew God's justice would come, but Jeremiah was "impatient" because he wanted God's justice to come quickly.

God bless everyone.

Bob

 

[David]

Good morning,

I get asked this question amongst Christians, "Doesn't God answer every prayer?" Example, Scriptures will be presented to me, Matthew 6:33, 7:7-8, 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14 and 15:7 as their argument.

This study points to several key areas. It's easy to see only one side of the prayer request, but we tend to overlook God who sees the ulterior motive.

I'm reminded of Jeremiah 12's complaint to God. He knew God's justice would come, but Jeremiah was "impatient" because he wanted God's justice to come quickly.

God bless everyone.

Bob

Good example, Bob. Jeremiah 12 really does illustrate this point even more. In Jeremiah's prayer he starts off by saying that he knows God is righteous. Then he asks, "Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper?" He knew God was good and just, but he was dealing with God seemingly being tardy in His judgment.

I think we can do that in prayer as well. We might be praying for something that is righteous, but grow impatient because God isn't doing it when we want Him to. Sometimes our problem is not if God will act, but if we will wait for Him to act.

Thanks for bringing Jeremiah into the conversation. Great verse to consider here.

 

[by grace]

prayer is one note just one of the harder things ..i pray every day sometimes off and on through out the day.. i pray on the way to work ..on the way through the door to work.. i pray at night before going to sleep. i think i did prayer request over this not sure.. the wife sister recently was diagnosed with 2 tumors the size of a quarter in front part of her brain. they could not do surgery or a biopsy due to low blood platelets. had they done a biopsy or surgery. odd was she would bleed to death.

they done a series of test determined it to be cancer and progressive. she has stage four liver disease due to medicine . please bear in mind the doctors wasn't sure of doing radiation and or chemo. her last mri they done the doctor called.. the tumors was GONE NO MEDICINE NO NOTHING.. EVERY SUNDAY AT CHURCH WE HAD A CIRCLE OF PRAYER there was all kinds of folks praying.. she is having mini strokes . not sure the action on that

i know all kinds of people with cancer .that has not go this type news.. do i fully understand prayer ? No but i know i am told to pray God spared her from this. still has health issues ..they call it Grace and mercy

 

[David]

Good morning,

I get asked this question amongst Christians, "Doesn't God answer every prayer?" Example, Scriptures will be presented to me, Matthew 6:33, 7:7-8, 21:22, Mark 11:24, John 14:13-14 and 15:7 as their argument.

This study points to several key areas. It's easy to see only one side of the prayer request, but we tend to overlook God who sees the ulterior motive.

I'm reminded of Jeremiah 12's complaint to God. He knew God's justice would come, but Jeremiah was "impatient" because he wanted God's justice to come quickly.

God bless everyone.

Bob

I hate to admit it, but I have often been like Jeremiah in that way. I know God sees the whole picture and His timing is always right, yet I still want Him to act now, especially when I see evil seeming to prosper.

You also make a good point about prayer. It is easy to pull out verses about asking and receiving while overlooking that God knows our motives and sees what we cannot see. We may think we know exactly what should happen, but God knows whether what we are asking is truly good and according to His will. Jeremiah’s honesty is encouraging because he brought his impatience straight to God instead of pretending he did not feel it.

 

[bobinfaith]

prayer is one note just one of the harder things ..i pray every day sometimes off and on through out the day.. i pray on the way to work ..on the way through the door to work.. i pray at night before going to sleep. i think i did prayer request over this not sure.. the wife sister recently was diagnosed with 2 tumors the size of a quarter in front part of her brain. they could not do surgery or a biopsy due to low blood platelets. had they done a biopsy or surgery. odd was she would bleed to death.

they done a series of test determined it to be cancer and progressive. she has stage four liver disease due to medicine . please bear in mind the doctors wasn't sure of doing radiation and or chemo. her last mri they done the doctor called.. the tumors was GONE NO MEDICINE NO NOTHING.. EVERY SUNDAY AT CHURCH WE HAD A CIRCLE OF PRAYER there was all kinds of folks praying.. she is having mini strokes . not sure the action on that

i know all kinds of people with cancer .that has not go this type news.. do i fully understand prayer ? No but i know i am told to pray God spared her from this. still has health issues ..they call it Grace and mercy

I hate to admit it, but I have often been like Jeremiah in that way. I know God sees the whole picture and His timing is always right, yet I still want Him to act now, especially when I see evil seeming to prosper.

You also make a good point about prayer. It is easy to pull out verses about asking and receiving while overlooking that God knows our motives and sees what we cannot see. We may think we know exactly what should happen, but God knows whether what we are asking is truly good and according to His will. Jeremiah’s honesty is encouraging because he brought his impatience straight to God instead of pretending he did not feel it.

Good morning, by grace and David;

I feel we're on the same page, with lessons, whether we like it or not. God hears our prayers, complaints and trust in Him. Regardless, He is faithful and will answer our requests for healing, direction in our ministries and personal needs according to His will and purpose. I also believe God allows us to enjoy life with our loved ones.

David, I also want solutions, now, to our most pressing needs. We also know God doesn't work that way according to our time. (My personal struggle.) We must seek first His kingdom and righteousness, especially our prayer requests for the sick, in proportion to His time, wealth on the massive scale of His own glory.

What by grace shares are incredible miracles covered with grace and mercy. We are to share these testimonies with others because many of us don't focus on what God can do, instead lament, "why isn't God hearing my prayers?"

Good stuff, brothers. I'm encouraged by your posts.

God bless everyone.

Bob

 

[by grace]

I also want solutions,

they come on his terms not ours

 

[bobinfaith]

they come on his terms not ours

Hey by grace;

I have to confess it's a struggle that I'm still praying through. I have a question I ask myself, and others.

How many times did we force our terms, not His terms and didn't realize it? What was the result of that?

God bless everyone.

Bob

 

[David]

How many times did we force our terms, not His terms and didn't realize it? What was the result of that?

I believe that happens more times than we care to admit. We figure out what we think the answer should be, then pray God will make it happen, rather than submit the situation to Him honestly.

Take Abraham and Sarah for instance. God promised them a son, but they tried to produce one themselves through Hagar and caused years of heartache and strife.

For that reason, 1 John 5:14 has really stood out to me. "... if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us."

Sometimes the most difficult thing about prayer is not asking God for what we think we want. It is allowing ourselves to say, "Lord, if this is not what You desire, change my plans." I can think of several times in my life where I was probably asking God to bless my way, rather than asking Him to direct my path.

 

[by grace]

Hey by grace;

I have to confess it's a struggle that I'm still praying through. I have a question I ask myself, and others.

How many times did we force our terms, not His terms and didn't realize it? What was the result of that?

God bless everyone.

Bob

i I have to confess it's a struggle that I'm still praying through

i like using that praying through. a old time preacher man use to say we got to pray through our fears our doubts . praying through is a never ending thing.


i am sure were all guilty we get in a hurry God uses it as a learning tool he chastises us to teach us. we all know the end results . paul wrote the flesh profits nothing

 

[Yesua888]

Good morning, by grace and David;

I feel we're on the same page, with lessons, whether we like it or not. God hears our prayers, complaints and trust in Him. Regardless, He is faithful and will answer our requests for healing, direction in our ministries and personal needs according to His will and purpose. I also believe God allows us to enjoy life with our loved ones.

David, I also want solutions, now, to our most pressing needs. We also know God doesn't work that way according to our time. (My personal struggle.) We must seek first His kingdom and righteousness, especially our prayer requests for the sick, in proportion to His time, wealth on the massive scale of His own glory.

What by grace shares are incredible miracles covered with grace and mercy. We are to share these testimonies with others because many of us don't focus on what God can do, instead lament, "why isn't God hearing my prayers?"

Good stuff, brothers. I'm encouraged by your posts.

God bless everyone.

Bob

It is a "human condition" to get frustrated when things do not turn around fast enough. I pray that God will continue to open my eyes, ears and senses, and give me the wisdom to understand Him and His Will, for the greater good