God doesn’t really answer prayers
Many people, both Christians and not, don’t believe that God really answers prayers. Many like the notion that there is a God who can answer prayers, but whether or not he actually does answer prayers remains a dubious thought in the mind of many Christians.
I believe the problem exists from lack of experience and lack of paying attention. It takes time and reflection to look back at all the things you have prayed for and see how God may have answered those prayers. However, simple reflection is not enough. If we are not paying attention in the present, we will often misattribute certain events to coincidence or just good luck. This misattribution (is that a word? my spell checker didn’t pick it up. Sometimes you just need to make up a word that makes sense) will lead to an inaccurate reflection later on in the journey. So the key is to be paying attention now with the understanding that God does and will answer prayer.
Let me offer two personal examples in humility
Example 1
Recently I have been noticing some improvements in certain areas of my life as well as the life of my spouse. Not just circumstantial improvements but character improvements and quality of life improvements. But in some areas of my life, I see stagnation. Upon closer examination I have realized that the areas where I have seen improvement are things that I have diligently been praying about; but to be honest, not really focusing on in my “intellectual” pursuits. I have also realized that the areas where I have noticed stagnation are areas around which I focus little prayer time and energy. However, I spend much time focusing my life and work habits around these areas (such as trying to become more disciplined).
My conclusion from all this is that God has been working in my life by answering my prayers over time as they coincide with his will.
Example 2
For the last few weeks my daughter (7 months) has not been sleeping well, getting up multiple times per night much to the chigrin of my lovely wife. Also for the last few days she has had a fever over 102 degrees, which has been a cause of great concern at our home.
Last night, my wife and I prayed for my daughter, laying hands on her little body. We asked for God to bring healing and restoration and we rebuked the fever and sickness in all forms in Jesus’ name. We didn’t get a crazy “prayer voice” going and we didn’t pretend we had the power to heal. We simply asked for God to intervene based on the authority of Jesus’ name.
Before going to bed, we made another prayer that the baby would sleep well and that, as a consequence, my wife would get a good night’s rest. I felt good about it and went to bed.
We both woke up at the baby’s wimpering in the morning, after a night of blissful rest for all involved parties. I went to get the baby and felt her forehead; cool as a cucumber.
So what did we learn?
- God answers prayers
- Sometimes prayers are answered over time and sometimes answers come right away
- Our responsibility is not to make sure the prayer gets answered but to know that God can make things happen and to be faithful in prayer
- When some prayers don’t get answered, we trust that God has a good reason instead of doubting that He has heard or cares about our prayers
- We need to be honest about our prayers. Is what we are asking for something that will align with God’s will?
- Along with the above bullet. We shouldn’t be stupid and expect God to answer our selfish prayers like, “God please let me get approved for this home loan even though it doesn’t look good on paper!” Many times God will save us from ourselves.
- Get in tune with God’s will and be watching, waiting, listening, and looking for Him to show up in real ways in your life
