What do you do when God doesn't answer prayer?

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

Soverign Grace

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2018
2,948
1,708
113
73
Palmyra
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
A young pastor came up with the concept of Pray Until Something Happens or PUSH prayer.

It sounded great but I asked him two questions: -

If God decides to do nothing has something happened?

and

If God does what we ask of him to do, then who is God in this situation?

There is a very thin line which we can unintentionally cross when praying.

Our old pastor said "Pray until you touch the throne." I have prayed very deeply until I sensed I was in the presence of God. But then no answer is forthcoming and I keep asking Him what He wants - I keep thinking He must want something. It seems elusive however, although I keep having the sense of Him wanting me to be holy - "Be holy for I am holy" - and sometimes I'm not very holy and know I can do better. I looked around my library of books and pulled out one on holiness and am going to read it. I don't know if that's it - I hope it is but I don't know.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte and Nancy

Soverign Grace

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2018
2,948
1,708
113
73
Palmyra
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Or could it be that we don't see the results WE want?

That is true - but sometimes you don't see any results at all. Although I have been praying for a family member's future spouse and I couldn't believe when my husband told me he accepted the Lord - so I have seen that prayer answered, yet others remain troubling because they're so heartfelt.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte and Nancy

marksman

My eldest granddaughter showing the result of her
Feb 27, 2008
5,578
2,446
113
82
Melbourne Australia
Faith
Christian
Country
Australia
That is true - but sometimes you don't see any results at all. Although I have been praying for a family member's future spouse and I couldn't believe when my husband told me he accepted the Lord - so I have seen that prayer answered, yet others remain troubling because they're so heartfelt.

But where does it say in scripture that we will get answers to prayer because they are heartfelt?
 

charity

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2017
3,234
3,192
113
75
UK
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
'For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope:
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because He maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose.'

(Rom 8:26-28)

* I believe God answers all prayer, but not always in the way we desire. Sometimes the answer comes so slowly and gradually that it is barely detectable, and at other times it is simply, 'No'. So, we must simply give thanks in all things, and praise His Holy name.

* He knows the end from the beginning, may His will be done.

Praise His Holy Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 6, 2018
24,505
12,924
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I know that this struggle is as old as the hills but I'd still like to get feedback from other believers. I've seen some prayers miraculously answered; I knew it was from God. Yet other answers - very deep and heartfelt longings and prayer for good things for family members and answers have not come to pass. I go before God many many many times throughout my day and pray for things that I believe are in keeping with His will, yet my prayers result in nothing.

Your comment speaks of impressing two things.
1) One appears to be concerning yourself.
Identifying you believe;
Identifying you are NOT OVERCOME by a Struggle, BUT Rather are asking God to Be with you THROUGH the struggle...
AND? He was.
2) The Second appears to BE your request for God to be WITH "others".
That is a general comment, and it does not identify "IF" the others are BORN AGAIN, AND STRUGGLING; or
"IF" you are HOPING the others BECOME BORN AGAIN.
^ THAT is a deeper subject.
"IF" the other IS NOT born again: they require a skilled teacher to speak the word, in a fashion they will receive. At the end of the day, it is the others own choice to Hear and Listen and continue Listening...or not.
"IF" the other IS STRUGGLING, and BORN Again, that is a good sign, they have not given up but are GOING THROUGH the struggle, instead of giving in to the struggle.
It is a deep subject...
It is God who directs a willing persons LIFE.
You can not possibly KNOW, in what fashion the Lord is working in Others, to say, His works have failed.

Remember, The Lord does not promise to JERK US OUT OF STRUGGLES...He promised to BE WITH US "THROUGH" struggles.

We who are IN Christ, are blessed, BECAUSE He is WITH US.....THROUGH.....the struggles.
Noone is immune from having struggles.
We IN Christ, expect them.
We IN Christ, are blessed going THROUGH struggles, BECAUSE HE IS WITH US.
Praying for an OTHER, is that THEY will be strengthened THROUGH Christ to have victory OVER their struggles, by them going THROUGH their struggles WITH the Power and Comfort of Christ WITH THEM.

To say, God has not Answered, is hinging on implying God failed.
Remember, God DOES NOT work according to our understanding.

Glory to God,
Taken
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte and Nancy

Taken

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 6, 2018
24,505
12,924
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
When my mother was dying of cancer she prayed and no healing came. I remember her telling God: "I know you hear me." That's where I think we as believers have an even greater struggle than unbelievers: We know God hears us, yet withholds answers.


IF ~ your mother was a believer.
IF ~ your mother's bodily flesh was overcome with disease.
IF ~ your mother was experiencing horrific effects of the disease.

And the Lord God, called your mother Home unto Him.

IS your mother's body, soul, spirit, mind, heart, released from the effects of the disease and suffering of her bodily flesh?

IS not every single body the Lord created, subject to physical death?

IS it not the Lord Himself who determines the Day He shall call unto Himself those that are His?

Absolutely ~ the family members and friends mourn the LOSS of their of loved ones being departed from their own daily lives...

But yet should we not rejoice, Knowing, our departed loved ones are with the Lord God, who Loves them and has called them UNTO HIM, where they Be without struggles and suffering?

It's all about knowledge and perspective of the living wanting "something greater" for the others they love. And while "missing them", fully knowing they are experiencing absolute Love and Peace with the Lord God, which IS absolutely "something greater".

Your comfort should be; your mother is in absolute Love and Comfort and void of any suffering.

Glory to God,
Taken

 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte and Nancy

Taken

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 6, 2018
24,505
12,924
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I spoke with a lawyer one time who handled a well-known case of priests molesting youth. I knew he was struggling when he said: "There is no God! That's why you're suffering!" I knew instinctively that the horrid things he heard had caused him to lose his faith.

First of all, nothing indicates, such lawyer ever had faith.

Secondly, his comment should have instantly informed you, he was of the devil, and NOT a good choice to represent you in ANY matter.

And that is now water under the bridge.
We have to learn from lessons, of whom we choose to do business with or not and why.
We can not blame others for our choices.
In short, we have to learn from lessons that we do not like the outcome, and not dwell on it, but lay it to rest and be more cautious if the situation agains arises.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

Taken

Well-Known Member
Staff member
Encounter Team
Feb 6, 2018
24,505
12,924
113
United States
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I
been many times when I felt like turning my back on God, and at times I have. But then I learn there is nowhere else to go. ("Whom have I in heaven but you?")

So how do you reconcile the suffering in this world - and your own - of good people and the seeming non-suffering of heathens? I've read Psalm 73 a number of times but it still doesn't cut it. I still petition God and ask Him to answer.
There have been many times when I felt like turning my back on God, and at times I have.

I can not even comprehend your comment.

Glory to God,
Taken
 

Nancy

Well-Known Member
Apr 30, 2018
16,761
25,324
113
Buffalo, Ny
Faith
Christian
Country
United States

IF ~ your mother was a believer.
IF ~ your mother's bodily flesh was overcome with disease.
IF ~ your mother was experiencing horrific effects of the disease.

And the Lord God, called your mother Home unto Him.

IS your mother's body, soul, spirit, mind, heart, released from the effects of the disease and suffering of her bodily flesh?

IS not every single body the Lord created, subject to physical death?

IS it not the Lord Himself who determines the Day He shall call unto Himself those that are His?

Absolutely ~ the family members and friends mourn the LOSS of their of loved ones being departed from their own daily lives...

But yet should we not rejoice, Knowing, our departed loved ones are with the Lord God, who Loves them and has called them UNTO HIM, where they Be without struggles and suffering?

It's all about knowledge and perspective of the living wanting "something greater" for the others they love. And while "missing them", fully knowing they are experiencing absolute Love and Peace with the Lord God, which IS absolutely "something greater".

Your comfort should be; your mother is in absolute Love and Comfort and void of any suffering.

Glory to God,
Taken

Very well put @Taken ,
I would never wish my beloved ones who have passed back into this world. They were saved when they passed. I do find it tough to comfort other Christians who have lost family members that were not saved. All I can say to them is that we have no idea how the Lord might have been working in them at the time of their death. It is a hard thing to comfort those who have unsaved family who pass.
And, to stick with the OP, God answers ALL prayer...He also opens doors that we do not recognize as such and we slam them shut thinking we know better. Only being in The Spirit and feasting on The Word will allow us to discern some of His answers. And, yeah...sometimes it is a NO. I have peace about my nieces and nephews, even though I do not, and may never see them fully come into the knowledge of our Great God!
 

Soverign Grace

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2018
2,948
1,708
113
73
Palmyra
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
'For we are saved by hope:
but hope that is seen is not hope:
for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities:
for we know not what we should pray for as we ought:
but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us
with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit,
because He maketh intercession for the saints
according to the will of God.
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to His purpose.'

(Rom 8:26-28)

* I believe God answers all prayer, but not always in the way we desire. Sometimes the answer comes so slowly and gradually that it is barely detectable, and at other times it is simply, 'No'. So, we must simply give thanks in all things, and praise His Holy name.

* He knows the end from the beginning, may His will be done.

Praise His Holy Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris

That's wise counsel. By thanking God in all things it shows Him our trust.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Acolyte and Nancy

Soverign Grace

Well-Known Member
Sep 15, 2018
2,948
1,708
113
73
Palmyra
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Your comment speaks of impressing two things.
1) One appears to be concerning yourself.
Identifying you believe;
Identifying you are NOT OVERCOME by a Struggle, BUT Rather are asking God to Be with you THROUGH the struggle...
AND? He was.
2) The Second appears to BE your request for God to be WITH "others".
That is a general comment, and it does not identify "IF" the others are BORN AGAIN, AND STRUGGLING; or
"IF" you are HOPING the others BECOME BORN AGAIN.
^ THAT is a deeper subject.
"IF" the other IS NOT born again: they require a skilled teacher to speak the word, in a fashion they will receive. At the end of the day, it is the others own choice to Hear and Listen and continue Listening...or not.
"IF" the other IS STRUGGLING, and BORN Again, that is a good sign, they have not given up but are GOING THROUGH the struggle, instead of giving in to the struggle.
It is a deep subject...
It is God who directs a willing persons LIFE.
You can not possibly KNOW, in what fashion the Lord is working in Others, to say, His works have failed.

Remember, The Lord does not promise to JERK US OUT OF STRUGGLES...He promised to BE WITH US "THROUGH" struggles.

We who are IN Christ, are blessed, BECAUSE He is WITH US.....THROUGH.....the struggles.
Noone is immune from having struggles.
We IN Christ, expect them.
We IN Christ, are blessed going THROUGH struggles, BECAUSE HE IS WITH US.
Praying for an OTHER, is that THEY will be strengthened THROUGH Christ to have victory OVER their struggles, by them going THROUGH their struggles WITH the Power and Comfort of Christ WITH THEM.

To say, God has not Answered, is hinging on implying God failed.
Remember, God DOES NOT work according to our understanding.

Glory to God,
Taken

My prayers are for two family members who are spiritually regenerated but who really need God's help for specific areas. Both have endured some heavy hardship, and I've been praying for years for God to bless them but it seems to not happen unless God is working behind the scenes in ways I don't grasp. I actually did just see the future spouse of another family member turn to God - so that was answered prayer.
 

Helen

Well-Known Member
Oct 22, 2011
15,476
21,155
113
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
My theology is..Are we prepared to love God for naught .
( Satan's words to God about Job )

When things do NOT happen , will I still Praise and Trust Him?
Can I be like the Hebrew young men...?
Those who would not bow down to the golden image..
" We will not bow down, our God will deliver us from the fiery furnace , but if not, we will not bow down." ( I am winging it there, not a direct quote)

One year the Lord said to me- " But if not...will you still love me for naught?"

That has stuck with me.
Even if healing or deliverance doesn't come , I intend to run the race, fight the good fight of faith , believe until the end...

King David prayed and fasted while his baby son was still alive..once he died, David- "arose, washed himself , anointed himself, and went to the house of the Lord to WORSHIP.." I love that verse.
David story ended in a "but if not.." ...

Goodness, I just looked up at the window as I was typing, and I see it is SNOWING again @farouk Canada eh!
 

GTW27

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2018
867
1,222
93
wilderness
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
My husband keeps saying to become the person God wants me to be. So I guess that's the same as walking by faith not by sight. It just gets difficult at times when you labor and labor and see the wicked prosper. I know of at least three people who are awful human beings who seemingly prosper after harming a lot of people. I've prayed for God's Hand of judgment but none is ever forthcoming. I tell Him that He's supposed to be a just God and yet I don't see much justice anywhere I look.

Fear not, Justice is coming. And it will fall upon them at a time they will not expect. In the mean time, let the wicked continue to be wicked, and let the righteous continue to walk uprightly.
 

GTW27

Well-Known Member
Dec 6, 2018
867
1,222
93
wilderness
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I know that this struggle is as old as the hills but I'd still like to get feedback from other believers. I've seen some prayers miraculously answered; I knew it was from God. Yet other answers - very deep and heartfelt longings and prayer for good things for family members and answers have not come to pass. I go before God many many many times throughout my day and pray for things that I believe are in keeping with His will, yet my prayers result in nothing.

I know that other believers have this happen and I wonder how you deal with it? I've had people say that there must be some sin in one's life, (Job's friends) or that God's timing is not ready yet, but the petitioning to God continues to bear nothing and yet I know God hears me.

When my mother was dying of cancer she prayed and no healing came. I remember her telling God: "I know you hear me." That's where I think we as believers have an even greater struggle than unbelievers: We know God hears us, yet withholds answers.

I spoke with a lawyer one time who handled a well-known case of priests molesting youth. I knew he was struggling when he said: "There is no God! That's why you're suffering!" I knew instinctively that the horrid things he heard had caused him to lose his faith. There have been many times when I felt like turning my back on God, and at times I have. But then I learn there is nowhere else to go. ("Whom have I in heaven but you?")

So how do you reconcile the suffering in this world - and your own - of good people and the seeming non-suffering of heathens? I've read Psalm 73 a number of times but it still doesn't cut it. I still petition God and ask Him to answer.

What I do when it seems The Lord has not answered my prayer, I talked to Him about what He already said about prayer in His Word.It kind of goes like this, "But you said" and I repeat what He said. And then it comes to pass. It has to, for He has already said it. And now I share a deep thing to consider when you pray that it might increase your faith when you pray.If we, as promised, have both The Father and The Son in the form of The Holy Spirit within us, and we know The Spirit interceeds for us, when we pray, we pray in His will. And His will always has compassion and mercy for those that are suffering. And when we bend the knee to pray, we do not go down alone. Neither do we pray alone. Is there a mountain to big to move, when ( two as one) petetion it to be moved. No, it shall be plucked up and thrown into the sea. So it is with prayer, Believe, and it shall be done for you, or as He says "I will do it".
 

charity

Well-Known Member
Nov 26, 2017
3,234
3,192
113
75
UK
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
My prayers are for two family members who are spiritually regenerated but who really need God's help for specific areas. Both have endured some heavy hardship, and I've been praying for years for God to bless them but it seems to not happen unless God is working behind the scenes in ways I don't grasp. I actually did just see the future spouse of another family member turn to God - so that was answered prayer.
'If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.'

(1 Corinthians 15:19-21)

Hello there, @Soverign Grace,

Yes, I can empathise with you there, but I have also been surprised by joy, when I have suddenly realised that God's answering has been staring me in the face, and I have been unaware of it until that moment: and then there is such overwhelming knowledge of His faithfulness, that my heart has overflowed with praise and adoration.

I have a grandson who has mental health problems and his needs are so complex and varied. I have prayed according to my own understanding of what those needs are: but God has answered, and is still answering in ways that are quite different. There are so many things being worked out, not only in his life, but also in the lives of those directly concerned with him, that are beyond my knowledge and understanding; but praise God, He can see the final picture, the goal and object of all this suffering, and He will bring it to fruition, in the way that only He can. My prayers are coloured by the desire to ease peoples burdens, bring happiness, take away suffering, which are all temporal things: but God's vision is so much different, isn't it? For He sees eternity.

Praise His Holy Name!

In Christ Jesus
Chris
 

Windmillcharge

Well-Known Member
Dec 21, 2017
2,934
1,823
113
68
London
Faith
Christian
Country
United Kingdom
It's very hard when life kicks you in the teeth. I see these people like Joel Osteen espousing the wealth gospel and my life has been more of a slug it out to make it to the next day. "All who will live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." But at some point God has to see that we're weary and need a break but it seems like it doesn't come. "How long O Lord" has been my prayer seemingly forever. But it's good to hear how others cope with the prolooooooooonged times of testing.


I take great comfort in Jesus's promise in Matt 12 that the bruised reed he will not break or the smouldering candle he won't put out.
Jesus knows our weaknessed, he is not offended when we scream and shout at him because of our problems. He already knows via the spirit that we are calling him names.
He honours and values those whohang on despite everything.