Why Is God Saying No To My Prayer?
Have you been praying about something and you feel like God is not answering? Why is this happening?
Firstly, whatever you might be praying for might not be the will of God in your life, but God has something bigger in store for you (Luke 22). Jesus prayed for God to take his suffering away, but said to God "your will be done." God did not take Jesus suffering away. Jesus still had to die on the cross. It was God's will for Jesus to die. Think again about your situation, are you praying for something to happen because it's your will? Is it your desire or it is God's desire?
Secondly, God might be saying no because you have sinned (2 Samuel 11). David committed adultery when he slept with Bathsheba and they had a son. Unfortunately, their son became sick and David pleaded with God, but God allowed the child to die. Maybe God is not answering your prayer because you have sinned. Isaiah 59: 2 says the following: "But your iniquities have separated you from your God;your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear."
Thirdly, God might be saying no to your prayers because you are asking with a wrong motive (James 4: 3). Why are you asking for what you are asking? This is key. Pure motive gets God’s attention an impure motive does not. When you ask God for something is it because you want to glorify Him or yourself?
Fourthly, God might not be answering your prayer because it’s just not the right time (Luke 1). Sometimes, God is saying no right now, but yes for later. Elizabeth and Zechariah wanted a child and prayed about it for a long time. In the end, God did grant them their request and they had John. However, John needed to be born before Jesus to fulfill the Word of God that someone was coming to prepare the way of the LORD. That was John. So God say yes, but not at the time of their request.
Finally, God is saying no to your prayers because He wants you to experience His power and grace. Paul asked God to take away a thorn in his flesh three times but he was given the same answer (2 Corinthians 12: 9). God did not take away his situation. In the end Paul learned that despite his trial, God was with him. Sometimes God is doing the same thing in your life.
Hopefully this short list helps you understand better why your payers are not being answered. At the end of the day, God has our best interest in mind, we just have to trust Him.
