Why Unanswered Prayer?

 




 

Photo credit: TheeErin / Foter / CC BY-ND


 

Why is it that our prayers are not answered?


 

Consider these verses:

1. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:24 EMTV)
   


2. "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds, and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8 EMTV)
   


3. …You do not have because you do not ask. (James 4:2 EMTV)
   


4. For assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be taken up and cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that the things which he says are coming to pass, whatever he says shall be his. For this reason I say to you, all things whatsoever you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive them, and they will be yours. (Mark 11:23-24 EMTV)
   

 

Why is wrong here? God promises doesn't He? Consider what the supporters of "name it, claim it" have to say here, here, and here (The last is a "Life Coach"). But! Where's reality? Does God HAVE to do everything we ask? No. Even Kenneth Hagin Ministries has to ask for donations.


 

It is so bad with these people. Consider this quote from Fredrick Price, "If you have to say, 'If it be thy will' or 'Thy will be done.' If you have to say that, you are calling God a fool" (Frederick Price). Jesus said, "Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10 EMTV Compare Matthew 26:42).


 

For some more in depth articles on the Word of Faith, Positive Confession, and etc. movement see
here, here, and here.


 

So why does God not answer our prayers? When we pray for healing, why does He sometimes not heal? When we pray for money that we need, it does not come? When we pray for rain, it does not rain?


 

D1 Sometimes God's will is "no.

E1 It is better for the Kingdom of God to say "no."

E2 The need of another person may be different by answering you "no," the needs of another person please Him to answer "yes." Example, you may pray for rain but another prays that it does not rain. God, who knows best, sends rain. The answer to your prayer is "no" but to the other "yes."

E3 Even the Lord Jesus had the answer to His prayer as "no." Matthew 26:39

D2 Sometimes we have the opportunity.

E1 God opens the way, but we refuse because of fear, etc.

E2 God opens the way, but we are hindered by the devil in some way (1 Thessalonians 2:18)

D3 Sometimes God's will to wait. (John 11:3, John 11:6, John 11:43-44)

D4 Sometimes we have sin. (Psalm 66:18,

E1 We have neglected God's rules and counsel (Proverbs 1:28)

E2 We do not have mercy on others. (Proverbs 21:13)

E3 We despise God's Word, the Bible. (Proverbs 28:9)

E4 We have unconfessed sin (Isaiah 1:15)

E5 We are stubborn and do not humble ourselves that God is right and we are wrong. (Zechariah 7:13)

E6 We are selfish or greedy and want more for the sake of having more/hording. (James 4:3)

D5 Sometimes we do not have faith. (James 1:6-7)

D6 Sometimes we do not treat our wife that way God wants us. (1 Peter 3:7)

D7 Sometimes we give up. (Luke 18:1)

D8 Sometimes we are not sincere (Hebrews 10:22)

D9 Sometimes an answered prayer will may us proud. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)