photo #5070883

Why Doesn't God Answer Prayer Sooner Instead of Later? "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" Matthew 7:7 All of us have felt this way about a lot of prayer requests. Sickness, lost loved ones, marital problems, children, the church and its needs top the list. You can fill in the blanks. Just about all of us have been in a hurry, or I might say desperately, to see God answer our prayers. The passage seems to infer that Jesus says, "Once you ask, knock, and seek, you will get an answer to all your prayers." Yet no timetable is set by Jesus. The Bible is full of people who had to wait long and hard for God to answer prayer. Abraham with Isaac, Job and his suffering, David with the temple eventually being built by his son, and Jeremiah and the eventual restoration of his people to their homeland. In the New Testament, Jesus was patient with His disciples, continually praying for them to get it right (even when they failed). Paul prayed for his thorn in the flesh to be removed. God said no, but He would glorify Himself through Paul's weakness. There are man-made delays to answered prayer: Sin blocks God from answering our prayers directly (Is. 59:1-2, James 4:3-4). Lack of Faith - This is confidence in God to hear prayer (Heb. 4:16,11:6; James 1:6). Continuance in Prayer - Prayer is not just for church prayer services. It is a continual practice directed to the throne of God (Lk. 18:1,8). Lack of Specificity - When we pray in general prayers, we demonstrate a lack of depth that is very important for prayer and a relationship with the Lord (Matt. 18:19). When Jesus is talking about ask, seek, and find He is talking about specific items. So why doesn't God answer our prayers immediately? -He is an eternal God with an eternal purpose and plan. That plan will not be completely revealed until we enter into glory. A child is not given everything they want, only that which is good for them. Giving an immediate answer could sometimes foil God's eternal plan to answer our prayers in a greater way (Matt. 7:8-11). We know that whatever happens, God always does what is best (Rom. 8:28). -Much of what we view as unanswered prayers are answered; we just don't like the answers most of the time. We sometimes want God to answer prayers in our way, but He answers in His way. Sometimes the answer is to wait (I John 5:14-15). -We must trust in God's infinite wisdom to do right because He is God. Even though we exhibit faith and trust, sometimes God asks us to keep coming to Him to find peace even when we don't see the answer to our prayers immediately (Gen. 18:25). Above all, we need to pray for wisdom to discern God's will and answer to our prayers (James 1:5). God wants to give us His best. We must never settle for cheap substitutes. We need authentic prayer because we come to an authentic God for authentic answers. This has always been a favorite of mine, which gives some explanation to answered prayer: I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed. The Prayer of an Unknown Confederate Soldier ---Dan Nelson