Why Prayers Go Unanswered

John 9:31 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth. (KJV)

John 15:7 If you remain in me and my word remains in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given to you. (KJV)

Prov 15:8 8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. (KJV)

Prov 15:29 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous. (KJV)

Prov 28:9 9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination. (KJV)

Psalm 66:18 (King James Version)

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Isaiah 1:15 (King James Version)

And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (King James Version)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Why Prayers Go Unanswered

Ten Reasons Our Prayers Are Not Answered

James 4:1-11

1. James 4:1,2 says, "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come thy not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not."

There are a lot of reasons we don’t have what we desire and one of those reasons is because we don’t ask. Matt. 7:7,8 declares, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." Don’t be surprised if you don’t receive when you ask the first time.

Most of the time we don’t ask because we don’t believe God will give what we ask for. We aren’t used to living by faith, and find it much easier to live by sight. It is more natural to live by sight and it fits this body and mind and our sinful lifestyle much better.

Much of the time we don’t ask because we want to do it ourselves. We don’t like to depend on God, we had rather depend on ourselves because we are filled with the pride of life. We like to be independent, to depend on no one, but ourselves. We want others to believe we can take care of ourselves (self-reliance), while they also see our humility.

Ephesians 3:20 states, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us," This verse is part of a prayer Paul prayed to Almighty God for the people at Ephesus. God can and will do more than we can ask or think. But only according to the power that worketh in us. What does that mean? It means that God will only act in his gracious provision and aid for us in the same proportion as we believe in him. If you don’t believe God will do anything, he won’t do anything. If you believe God will do a certain thing, he will do it. (All of this is according to the scriptures, of course.)

The great prophet, Elijah, didn’t receive when he asked the first time. A careful reading of James 5:17,18 and I Kings 18:44, indicates that Elijah prayed more than once to stop the rain, and more than once to bring the rain again. In II Kings 4:32-35, Elisha stretched himself on the dead child at least two times.

The widow woman in Luke 18: 1-8 cried unto the king until she was avenged. Jesus declares to us, "Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?"

Don’t be discouraged when it seems God isn’t listening. Keep on praying, seeking, and knocking. God will answer your prayers.

2. James 4:3 states, "Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts."

Sometimes we don’t receive what we asked for because we haven’t asked that God be glorified, but that we be satisfied. We might say, "I’ve asked in the name of Jesus, but He just hasn’t given like He said he would." Remember, God always does it right; we have done it wrong. If we haven’t asked for the glory of God, He won’t supply.