Prayer Answered: Why Don't I Get What I Want?
Many churches teach that "if you pray, God will grant everything you ask for." However, in reality, many of our fervent requests go unanswered, which can lead to disappointment. The Bible, though, speaks about answered prayer in a way that differs from our typical expectations. So, what is the right understanding of answered prayer?
The Biblical View of Answered Prayer
The Bible clearly promises that God answers prayers. But this doesn't mean that He will give us everything we want, in the way we want it, and when we want it.
Praying According to God’s Will: The Bible says that God hears us if we ask anything according to His will (1 John 5:14). This means our prayers are answered when they align with God's greater plan and purpose. Sometimes, what we ask for might not be for our true benefit or for God's glory.
Waiting and Different Kinds of Answers: Just as it took 21 days for Daniel's prayer to be answered, God sometimes makes us wait (Daniel 10:12-14). Furthermore, when the Apostle Paul prayed three times for his "thorn in the flesh" to be removed, God answered differently, saying, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
God Gives the Best: Jesus said that just as a good parent wouldn't give a child a stone when asked for bread, our heavenly Father will give what is good to those who ask Him (Matthew 7:9-11). What we think is "good" might not be what God considers "best." God sometimes answers in bigger and more surprising ways than we could ever imagine.
The Meaning of Prayer Beyond the Answer
Prayer is not merely a tool to get things from God. It is a means of building a relationship with God and drawing closer to Him. Through prayer, we learn to understand God's will more deeply, trust Him, learn patience, and grow spiritually. The act of praying itself provides great benefit, regardless of whether a specific request is answered.
If we only rely on the teaching that "God grants all prayers," we might misunderstand God and feel disappointed and frustrated in our faith when prayers go unanswered. There is also a risk of prayer becoming a selfish act to fulfill our desires. This can lead to a mistaken belief that God is a genie in a lamp who will automatically grant our wishes.
The Right Attitude for Prayer
From a biblical perspective, we should have the following attitude when we pray:
Seeking God’s Will: Like Jesus, who prayed, "Not my will, but yours be done," we should seek for God's will to be done rather than our own.
Entrusting the Outcome to God: We should pray with faith, believing that God will answer in the best way possible, but also humbly entrusting the form and timing of that answer entirely to Him.
Remembering Gratitude and Praise: Regardless of whether our prayers are answered in the way we expect, we should always have a heart of gratitude and praise for God.
Praying with Our Lives: Prayer should not just be a verbal confession; it should be lived out through our actions and daily lives.
Prayer is an intimate communion with God and an act of trust, where we commit our lives fully to Him. Even if there is no immediate answer, we must remember that God hears our prayers and is leading us on the best path.
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