Dear Minister: Why Isn’t God Answering My Prayer?

Question: Why isn’t God answering my prayer?

Answer: Prayer is central to a believer’s faith. Throughout Scripture, we are encouraged to pray in all
circumstances, and if we pray in faith, our prayers will be heard and answered.

Yet, many deeply faithful people pray deeply faithful prayers, in the midst of terrible need and grief, and those prayers seem to go unheard and unanswered.

How do we make sense of this without losing faith and hope? Having appropriate expectations for what happens in prayer goes a long way in helping us make sense of things when it seems like God doesn’t answer us.

While prayers for God to intervene and provide for our need is part of it, prayer is much more. Prayer is, first and foremost, an ongoing “commune” with God, in which we share our heart with God and open
ourselves to God sharing God’s heart with us.

Like any loving relationship, regular communication strengthens our bond. If nothing else were expected of prayer, this presence of God with us would be enough.

Prayer is also an opportunity to celebrate our blessings, a time to express gratitude for all that God has already done. Prayer is a time to personally worship God with praise and exaltation, and a time to lift up our broken places in confession and experience God’s healing and forgiveness.

Prayer reminds us that God is present with us always and making good on His promises. Sometimes, specific prayers, for specific things, at specific times, aren’t answered as we specify to God. This is always disappointing, and sometimes, when the grief is profound and the need is dire, it is heartbreaking.

Still, we cling to the reassurance that God is working to bring good out of even the worst circumstances: “We know God works all things together for good for those who love God and called according to
God’s purposes.” (Romans 8:28)

Rev. Erik C. Hall
Senior Pastor
St. Peter’s United Methodist Church
Ocean City
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