Why doesn’t God answer all of our prayers?
When it comes to prayer, people have been all over the map when trying to explain why some prayers are answered and some are not. There is probably not a person who has prayed more than once who cannot say that they didn’t get everything they asked for when they prayed. Why is that?
Well, the first answer is that not everyone who prays has put their trust in the God of the Bible as revealed in Jesus Christ. And, a complete reading of the Bible makes it clear that God listens to those who have placed their trust in Him. The same cannot be said of those who have not done so. Now, that doesn’t mean that God doesn’t answer prayer for “pre-Christians.” But what promises there are are only made to Christians in the New Testament.
Another reason that the New Testament itself gives is that sometimes our motives are less than proper. At one point we are told that we “ask amiss,” that we might have things only for our own selves. As any parent knows, indulging every whim of someone is a way to destroy their lives, not build them up – and God loves each of us too much to spoil us.
But we all know that there are still many prayers that are selfless and prayed by devout Christians that go unanswered. Why is that? Well, maybe one reason is that to do so would undermine God’s best will for not only us, but for all humanity. What I mean is this: If God answered every prayer clearly and promptly whenever a Christian asked, then we would have to ask ourselves if we are serving God for the rewards or for the joy of knowing him. God seems to think that having a close personal relationship with you and me is worth more than anything else – even the life of His Son. If God was willing to give the life of His own Son for us, why would we expect that he would undermine the relationship that He has enabled through that sacrifice by satisfying every whim of creatures who, even at their best, take each other and him for granted. The fact is that answers to prayer are very hard to prove. For every study that seems to suggest that answers can be quantified, there are dozens of others that show the exact opposite. And perhaps that is for the best. I want my children to love me for who I am, not what I give them. I suspect God feels the same way.
Shalom!
Pastor Ken