How should a Christian respond to unanswered prayer?

Answer

How many Christians have prayed for someone, only to see their prayers seemingly go unanswered? How many have prayed and perhaps “given up” because they became discouraged at how long it took to have their prayer answered? God hears our prayers and will respond, but He will do so in His timing, which is for our good and His glory. How we handle unanswered prayer is not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of others.

When we pray, we engage in the most precious and God-given act of communication with the One to whom we are accountable for all we do. Yet, when we pray or speak to the One in heaven, there are times when He appears not to answer. In one sense, God answers every prayer with a “yes,” a “no,” or a “wait.” In every case, though, Scripture indicates that our prayers are being addressed. The Lord Jesus is tender and loving; He cherishes our communion with God the Father, for He Himself is our representative “For we have not a high priest who cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”, (Hebrews 4:15).

Often, but not always, prayer goes unanswered because of unconfessed sin. God cannot be mocked or deceived, and He who sits enthroned above knows us intimately, down to our every thought (Psalm 139:1-4). If we are not walking in the Spirit or if we harbor enmity in our hearts toward our brother or if we ask for things with the wrong motives (such as from selfish desires), our prayers are negatively affected (2 Chronicles 7:14;Psalm 66:18;James 4:3). Sin hinders our ability to be in fellowship with God, and it hindersOur prayers. Unbelief «The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: But the prayer of the upright is his delight. », (Proverbs 15:8) and hypocrisy «which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. », (Mark 12:40) also negatively impact our prayers.

Another reason why prayer seems to go unanswered is that the Lord is drawing out of our faith a deeper reliance and trust in Him, which should bring out of us a deeper sense of gratitude, love, and humility. In turn, this causes us to benefit spiritually, for He gives grace to the humble (James 4:6;Proverbs 3:34). Oh, how one feels for that poor Canaanite woman, who cried out incessantly to our Lord for mercy when He was visiting the region of Tyre and Sidon (Matthew 15:21-28)! She was hardly the person a Jewish rabbi would pay attention to. She was not a Jew, and she was a woman, two reasons that Jews ignored her. The Lord doesn’t seem to answer her petitions, but He knew all about her situation. He may not have answered her stated needs immediately, but still He heard and granted her request.

God may seem silent to us, but He never sends us away empty-handed. Even if prayer has not been answered, we must rely upon God to do so in His own time. Even the exercise of prayer is a blessing to us; it is because of our faith that we are stirred to persist in prayer. It is faith that pleases God «But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. », (Heb

Revelation 11:6, and if our prayer life is lacking, does that not indicate our spiritual condition as well? God hears our humble pleas for mercy, and His silence encourages us to persist in prayer. He desires us to communicate with Him. Let us desire the things that align with God’s will and let us follow His path instead of our own. By remaining faithful in unceasing prayer, we are living according to God’s plan, and that can never be incorrect (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).