Unanswered Prayer

by

Pastor B.J. Knefley

How many times have you prayed for something and not had your prayer answered? If you’re like most, probably many times. Have you ever wondered why your prayer wasn’t answered? Was God not listening, or indifferent? How often did it seem that your prayer just never got to first base? Why is it that some seem to have their prayers answered while others aren’t? Does God have favorites?

I suppose that there can be many reasons for prayers not being answered, but I’m going to focus on only one aspect of unanswered prayer. It has more to do with relationship then with the prayer itself. Let’s see if I can explain that a little further.

Many pray for things that they really want. Perhaps it’s for healing for a loved one, or something very significant. Perhaps it’s for a job, or financial needs. Whatever the need, we seek out the one who would seem to have the ability to answer and grant our request. The problem is that we’re approaching God not from a place of an intimate relationship but rather from the same place one would with a genie in the bottle. In other words, we’re not interested in having a relationship with God, or doing His will, we’re only interested in getting what we want without the relationship.

Why would we expect that God would give us what we’re asking for when we really care nothing about Him? Even people who say that they are His followers fall into the trap of asking for things in prayer while at the same time not willing to follow His will.

Here’s what the writer of Hebrews says, “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him”, (Hebrews 11:6). The question that we all must answer in seeking answers to prayer is who or what are we really seeking? Are we seeking Him, or just things. Perhaps the reason your prayers have gone unanswered is because you’re not really interested in Him. Think about it.