Will God Ever Answer My Prayer?

If you have ever prayed for something for a long time, you have probably wondered if God would ever answer your prayer. 

Sometimes, it seems that prayers are answered quickly, sometimes before we even really have time to pray about them, and other times, it seems like our prayers will never be answered.  

There are many examples in the Bible of people who prayed for a long time before they received an answer.  Other stories bring hope of a quick answer. 

So how can you know if God will answer your prayers?  

Anna & Simeon prayed for the promised Messiah their entire lives.  They worked in the temple and expected God to answer their prayers.  And yet, they were very old, when they finally saw the promise come true.  

Hannah prayed for a son for years.  She was barren while others around her were having children.  The Bible says “year after year” she went to the temple to pray.  (1 Samuel chapter 1)  

Abraham and Sarah were promised a son and descendants as bountiful as the stars.  They prayed until they gave up hope.  And yet, when Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 their prayed for promise finally came true.  

So, does God put an expiration date on our prayers?  Absolutely not. 

There are times when we pray for something from a selfish point of view and then God’s answer may be “no”.  Other times, when our prayers seem to go unanswered, it may be that God’s timing isn’t perfect yet. 

Or, perhaps when you are praying for a miracle in someone’s life or a change in attitude, your prayers seem to go unanswered because that person has the freedom to choose in spite of your prayers.  

Why Keep Praying When There is No Answer?

You are probably wondering why keep praying when there is no answer.  Sometimes there are answers that we can’t see, yet.  

Prayer provides us with direct access to God. This doesn’t mean that God has to do what we demand or beg for, rather it allows us to take our requests to Him and wait for His perfect timing. 

Praying allows us to give our burdens and requests to Him knowing that He loves us more than anything!  

Jeremiah 29:11-15 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  

Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.

I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (NIV)

These verses were specifically for the Israelites as they had been in slavery for years and years.  God not only promised that He had plans for them for a future, but also that He would bring them back to their home.  

When you keep praying even when you don’t see answers, you are placing your trust in God, knowing that He will do what He has promised. 

When you pray for someone’s salvation, that is an outcome that God wants more than you do.  When you pray for a broken relationship, you can rest assured that God wants to build and repair broken people.  

When you continue to pray even when you don’t see an answer, you are continuing to give God permission to work in your life or the life of someone else.  You don’t have to convince God to answer your prayer, but you are giving your worry or concern to Him to work out for good.  

Does God hear prayers I pray in my head?

There are many times in life when you may need to pray in your head rather than out loud or kneeling down.  God loves to hear your prayers no matter how you pray them. 

He understands your situations and knows exactly what you need.  

Here are a few Bible verses to help you know that God can hear your prayers that you pray in your head.  

•Romans 8:26 – In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 

•Psalm 6:9 – The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer.

•Proverbs 15:29 – The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Does God answer my prayers if I sin?

This is a big temptation to believe that if you sin, God will not answer your prayers.  

Romans 3:23-24 – This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

When Jesus died on the cross, He became the One who stood in your place.  He took your sin upon Him.  This means that when you ask for forgiveness, God will forgive you. 

This isn’t a once and done.  But every day, you need to repent and ask God for forgiveness. 

•Isaiah 1:18 – “Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

•2 Chronicles 7:14 – if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

•Hebrews 7:25 – Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

•Matthew 6:14 – For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

•Acts 2:38 – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

•Hebrews 8:12 – For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

•1 John 1:9 – If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Will My Prayers Ever Be Answered?

When you wonder if your prayers will ever be answered, the best place to look for assurance of answered prayers is the Bible.  God has given His word.  

•John 14:14 – You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

•1 John 5:14 – This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

•Matthew 18:19 – “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Keep praying.  Ask God to provide direction for your prayers and that He will help you pray for the things that are according to His word and His will.  

Write your prayer requests down and then search for Bible verses that provide promises that you can claim for those answers. 

As you continue to pray, even when it seems like your prayers aren’t being answered, remember that God loves you more than anything. 

He wants what is best for you, for your family, and for your children.  

While we live in a sinful world, there are bad things that happen.  Tragic accidents, illness, job loss, natural disasters, and broken relationships. 

But through all of these things, God will be with you.  He knows the end from the beginning and He sees you!  He hears you!  He loves you!

Philippians 4:19 – And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

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