Why does God not answer my prayers?
One must understand, in order for God to answer one's prayer they must first have a relationship with God. Billions of people pray every day and there prayers go unanswered because they are not praying to the true and living God. See ( Is following Christ the only way to eternal life? ) Jesus Christ is the only true and living God and praying to any other person or thing is a waste of time and will go unanswered.
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What To Do When God Isn’t Answering Your Prayers.
This is one of the most frustrating things about praying - when your prayers aren’t answered the way you want them, or when you want them answered. I am guilty of getting mad at God or refusing to talk to Jesus when my prayers aren’t answered. I spent a lot of time studying to realize that sometimes when my prayer isn’t answered it’s not always a yes or no, but a not right now. The best one; I have something better in mind.
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Sometimes when we pray for things, Jesus is looking out for our well being by telling us no. Have you ever had a big brother or older cousin tell you not to try something because they knew you’d get hurt? Jesus is that way. He knows what’s going to hurt us and is looking out for us long term.
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When I look back over the prayers that I prayed that didn’t come true, I realize that different prayers DID come true. I routinely pray a prayer of protection over myself; when I wake up, start driving, or randomly while in a moment of peace. Now, say I meet a guy or a apply for a job and I REALLY want it to work out, I pray for it right? I pray that I get the job and pray the guy is the one the Lord sent, and we live happily ever after. God knows long term the guy isn’t the best one for me. That prayer of protection is keeping me from praying myself into something that wouldn’t be best in the long run. With the job, you could need the promotion, you dislike your coworkers, you meet all the qualifications, you pray and pray but God says no. He also might have said no, not right now, but we were too upset to listen to that part.
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When God says not right now generally our assignment isn’t complete yet. I know we go around thinking that our lives are about us, our own advancement, our enjoyment, but when you give your life to Christ you are doing just that. You are handing your life over to Him for HIS use, not just your own. Maybe there is a skill you have not learned yet that will be beneficial in your new position. Maybe there is someone at your current job that needs God, and you are the one to show them how He can change their life.
From my own personal experience, I spent 5 years applying for a promotion. I prayed, I fasted, I spent time in my Bible, I did all the right things, and I was beyond frustrated that I just couldn’t get a promotion. When I took my step back, I asked myself is God telling me, not yet, I have something better, or the real kicker fix your attitude? I had gotten so resentful in my job. I would do the bare minimum while hating everything and everyone. My attitude was horrible. I wasn’t working to the glory of God so I shouldn't have expected God to answer my prayer. I also realized that there were people who I needed to show the love of Jesus, and possibly people I had yet to meet. I ended up meeting my best friend at that job. While I didn’t know it at the time, she was fully sent by God. She has prayed with me through many storms. If I had left when I wanted who knows when or if I would have met such a friend.
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God loves us more than we can ever know. He wants us to not only have the desires of our heart, but also the very best that life and love can offer each of us. Sometimes the desires of our heart aren’t the best for us, and we must trust that God knows what is best. So, the next time you feel like your prayer isn’t being answered ask yourself what is God telling me? Is it no, not yet, or fix my attitude? If so, then keep praying and preparing. If God tells you no say a prayer of thanks for Him having your back. If the answer is not yet, pray some more that you are actively preparing for when it is time and the same for if your attitude isn’t right. Prayer is an ongoing conversation with God and Jesus, there isn’t ANYTHING you can’t talk to Him about.
Brit
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