“Prayer is the key in the hand of faith, to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence” (Steps to Christ, p. 94-95).
Sometimes it seems that our prayers are unanswered. Why? Are there secrets to answered prayer? Yes! God is always ready to answer, but there are conditions that we need to meet so that He can answer us. There are also times when God knows it is not best to answer our prayers as we have prayed them. Then we must trust that “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” (Deuteronomy 29:29 NKJV).
Conditions for Answered Prayer
“There are certain conditions upon which we may expect that God will hear and answer our prayers.... If we regard iniquity in our hearts, if we cling to any known sin, the Lord will not hear us; but the prayer of the penitent, contrite soul is always accepted. When all known wrongs are righted, we may believe that God will answer our petitions” (Steps to Christ, p. 95).
“If (we) have complied with the conditions upon which these promises are based, God’s word is pledged that He will do for (us) more than (we) ask” (Morning Talks, November 1883, p. 14)
1. Feel our need of help from Him. “For I will pour water on him who is thirsty…” Isaiah 44:3
2. Humbly repent of all known sin. “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” Psalm 66:18
3. Ask in faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6
4. Love and forgive anyone who has wronged us. “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Matthew 6:12
5. Persevere in prayer. “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 4:2
6. Be diligent to stay connected to God in prayer. “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” Jude 20, 21
7. Pray in the name and spirit of Jesus. “And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14
When Prayer is Not Answered
What should we do when our prayers are not answered? Do we give up and go back to our old ways? No! God invites us to keep praying in faith and trust. His answers may not come as fast as we want, or in the exact way that we wish, but God is listening and He will answer in His perfect time and way.
Trust Anyway: “Some of the hardest moments in life are when you’ve prayed hard but the answer is no and you don’t know why. And you may never know why. But that is the litmus test of trust. Do you trust that God is for you even He doesn’t give you what you asked for? Do you trust that He has reasons beyond your reason? Do you trust that His plan is better than yours?” (The Circle Maker, p. 123-124).
Though we may not understand “why”, seemingly unanswered prayers are a part of God beautiful plan for our lives and the lives of those we pray for. “To every sincere prayer an answer will come. It may not come just as you desire, at the time you look for it; but it will come in the way and at the time that will best meet your need” (Prayer, p. 250).
“In the future life the mysteries that here have annoyed and disappointed us will be made plain. We shall see that our seemingly unanswered prayers and disappointed hopes have been among our greatest blessings” (Prayer, p. 112)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Keep Believing in Faith: “When we do not receive the very things we ask for, at the time we ask, we are still to believe that the Lord hears and that He will answer our prayers” (Steps to Christ, p. 96)
God’s promise in Mark 11:24 still applies: “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” So keep believing that God loves you and will answer your prayers in His perfect time and way.
Be a Prayer “Warrior”: The armed forces look for unyielding perseverance in those they choose to be elite warriors. When prayers go unanswered and it seems the heavens have turned to bronze, that is when the “warrior” part of prayer warrior comes into action. Don’t give up! “You have need of endurance…” Hebrews 10:36.
“You need to press in and press on. By definition, praying hard is praying when it’s hard to pray. And it’s the tough times that teach us to pray hard” (The Circle Maker, p. 124).
Intercede With Jesus: Even Jesus’ prayers for people’s salvation sometimes go unanswered. Lucifer and Judas both ultimately turned their backs on God. Yet Jesus interceded for them and loved them as long as there was hope. Even now, Jesus continues to intercede for us.
“He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 NKJV
Whether we see all the answers we seek for people’s salvation or not, Jesus invites us to join Him in the ministry of intercession. We walk closest to Jesus when we join Him in this work of prayer for people’s salvation. John Hyde, missionary to Punjab, India from 1892 to 1912, found in intense intercessory prayer a deep connection to Jesus and the key to the salvation of hundreds of Indians.
Praise Anyway: Praise is not natural to us, especially when it seems that things are not going the way we want. But these are the times that God especially calls us to praise Him and focus on His goodness, grace, and power, rather than our unhappy circumstances.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
"We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. If the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanksgiving and praise, we would have far more power in prayer. We would abound more and more in the love of God and have more bestowed to praise Him for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider your wants. Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise" (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 317).