1 Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered? At one point or another, we have all prayed. Some of our prayer lives are deep and continuous while others pray when we are in desperate need. Some of our prayers get answered right away. Some get answered in a while. Others seem to never get answered. And those are the ones that cause us to question whether God is even listening. Or maybe we wonder if God even cares about what we are asking or wanting. Perhaps there is a fear that we aren t good enough or aren t in good favor with God and that is why He is not answering our prayer. Regardless of why our prayers go unanswered, we need answers as to why they don t get answered. We will answer this hard question today but first as in past week s messages, I think it is important that we define what prayer really is. Not to complicate or dumb down the definition of prayer but really all prayer is is a conversation with God through Jesus Christ. All people can pray or have a conversation with God. It isn t something that is kept special just for Pastors or really good people. If that were the case, Jesus would never have had to die. That idea is soooo Old Testament! Everyone has access to the Father through Jesus Christ. Everyone can have a conversation with God. Period. Now, this is no ordinary conversation. I mean, we are talking about God Almighty, Creator of all things and judge of all mankind. But, we are talking about God who loved us so much that He gave up His son to die for you and I just so that we could have a relationship with Him. I can stand up here and tell you all about God and all of the different traits and qualities He has but that would mean little to you unless you personally discover who God is on your own.
2 Get into the Word and find out who God is so that you can know to whom you are praying. Now, to answer our question, Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered, we have to recognize that God responds to prayers in three different ways: yes, wait, and no. God answers the same way that you and I would answer someone else in a conversation. So, for the first answer we get to our prayers is God saying Yes. God is letting us (interrupting cell phone) excuse me a moment. (Go through make believe phone call from telemarketer who keeps calling asking for something) I am so sorry but these people keep calling me and I don t even know who they are. They want me to give them money or something. Seems like they always want something and I don t want to give it to them cuz I don t even know who they are. I mean, out of nowhere, they start calling me and act like I m their best friend and that I owe them something. Anyway, back to God saying yes. When our prayers are answered there really is no problem on our part: our prayers are in line with God s will and we see it come to reality. The second way that God answers our prayers is with wait. It is not that God will not deliver what we have prayed about but that it just doesn t happen right away. God will (phone rings again) (Take another call from telemarketer, I am more aggressive this time in dismay of the call) So sorry. Same people. They keep calling wanting something. It is getting so bad that I don t even want to pick up the phone when I see their number. You have that happen? These telemarketers who call and call after you have said no or even hung up on them. I have never even heard of the Greater Lower Mid-State Board of
3 Departmentalized and Criticized Teachers, Policeman, Fireman, and Veterans of all American Fought Wars, have you? Ugh! Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah. God sometimes answers our prayers with a wait. What we have asked for in prayer is in line with God s will but we just have to wait for God to make it so. Sometimes the wait can take a few days and sometimes it may take many months or even years. But, soon the waiting is done and our prayer becomes a reality. Then, we finally get to the crux of this sermon today. Why Do My Prayers Go Unanswered? In other words, why is God saying no, which is the third way that God answers prayers. Did you notice something there? Unanswered prayers are really answered prayers but the answer is no. I could finish the sermon right now because there is the definitive answer to this hard question. God does answer prayers and He answers them in one of three ways: yes, wait, and no. But, we need to understand why God would say no. If God is so loving and cares for us so much, then why would He say no to our requests? There are several reasons why God says no to our prayers and the first one is (phone rings, telemarketer) (I look at phone look at congregation look at phone pick it up and say, I am not answering this phone anymore because I don t know who you are so stop asking me! ) The first reason God says no to our prayers (phone rings I hang up the phone in an animated way without saying anything)
4 The first reason that God doesn t answer our phone calls is that our relationship with Him is shallow. We are like a telemarketer who doesn t really have a relationship with God but we call when we want something. Usually in times of distress we pray to God that He might change things so that it will be easier for us to handle or deal with. But we come to God acting like He is a genie granting wishes. Then when He says no, we act like spoiled children not getting what they want when they want it. This was wonderfully illustrated in the movie Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey. Jim Carrey was given permission to have all of God s powers by God Himself but with that also came all the responsibility of being God. One of those responsibilities was answering all of the prayers. The prayers came in on a computer like email and the prayers became so many that Bruce Almighty just said Yes to all of them without even looking at the requests. Everyone got what they wanted! There was a record number of lottery winners and kids everywhere got everything they wanted. That is not the way God works because God knows what is best for our lives far more than we could ever know. And what God wants in our life should be the focus of our relationship with Him. A good model for how we should pray is Philippians 4:4-7 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Come first with praise to God. When you call, say how good it is to talk with Him and thank Him for whatever is good in your life. Heck, if nothing else, just thank Him for taking the time to listen to you.
5 Then, present your request to God without being all uptight about it. If your relationship is good with God, then you know that He has your best interest at heart even though you may not see it at the time. Then, even when God says no by staying silent, you will have the peace of God that surpasses any understanding you might have about the situation. God says no because He has our best interests in mind. When we submit to this understanding, we begin to understand that God always answers prayers. Charles Stanley says we have unanswered prayers because God is more interested in our character than our comfort; His commitment is to our sanctification not necessarily our satisfaction. God know what is best for us and sometimes He says no to our prayers. The Apostle Paul was denied a prayer and he writes an important outcome that we must take note of for our own lives. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. God s grace is sufficient. When our prayers get answered with a no, God s grace is sufficient. Let me make this clear: our relationship with God will help us to accept this truth that God s grace is sufficient. If our relationship with God is shallow and telemarketer like, than we will have a hard time accepting God s grace as being sufficient. We will expect answers of Yes right away and not be able to bask in the grace of God s sufficiency.
6 The level of our relationship with God will help us to accept the no s that will be God s answer to some of our prayers. But let me also say that even if your relationship with God is full and deep and rich, you will still have no s as answers to prayers. Just like when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, Mark 14:36 Abba, Father, he said, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. Jesus recognized that His prayer might not be answered. He recognized that the Father s will was more important than his wishes. We should do the same. Why do your prayers go unanswered? They do get answered. God s will and perfect timing is always the answer. Though we may not agree or see His plan, God s answers all prayers. Sometimes God says yes. Sometimes God says wait. Sometimes God says no. If you are calling up God like a telemarketer, having no real relationship with God yet wanting something in return, check yourself. Put yourself on the other end of that phone and think about how you might respond to such requests. If God is in your book of people that you call on around the holidays, then you need to give Him a ring more often. Make more time for Him by reading His Word and sharing with Him what is going on in your heart. Just start a regular conversation with Him. He is ready to listen. And, God is already on speed dial and on the top of your list of favorites, then deepen your understanding that God grace is sufficient for you in all circumstances. Whether His answer is yes, wait, or no, God has your best interest at heart. God answers all prayers and is waiting to hear from you, His beloved children. Pick up the phone and start a conversation with God today and everyday.