6 Reasons Why God May Not Answer Your Prayer

Prayer is one of the most misunderstood subjects in the Bible. It attracts different interpretations, definitions, as well as misconceptions from people.

Some believe prayer is an avenue to express sentiments towards God, some other people believe prayer must be impeccably arranged for it to receive answers, but that's not the case. Prayer is a means through which we communicate our thoughts, intentions, desires and express intimacies towards God – it is a two-way flow of communication between man (humanity) and his Maker (Divinity) (Exodus 33:17-19).

In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus gave a blunt and direct assurance that those who ask, seek and knock through prayer shall receive their requests. Prayer is the most effective platform we communicate with the prayer-answering God (Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 50:15). But the probing question here is, "If this is true and these scriptural passages about God answering prayers swiftly (James 5:17-18, 1 Kings 18:24) are potent, why are some prayers not answered?"

Some set of people argue that the manner or way at which prayers are presented could determine its possibility to attract answer or rejection from God. At this stage, it is highly imperative for us to know that God still answers the prayers and desires of anyone who believes and calls upon Him for help, in the same frequency He answered scriptural personalities.

Hitherto, He still answers, even at higher velocity. He is the same every time! (Hebrews 13:8). But obviously, there are times God seems to be "silent" or "late" in granting answers to some prayer requests, especially our major expectation, requests or desires, while others receive instant answers. The question here is what could be responsible for this?

We seem to experience this sporadically in our walk with God. We often think God gives preference to some prayer requests than the other or deliberately ignores some prayers. In tandem with this rumination, we consequently begin to doubt God's acceptance of the prayer or rather hold the devil liable as he did in Daniel 10:12-13.

Whatever is our resolves, we need to be conscious of the fact that there are scripturally proven reasons why God may choose not to answer your prayer, and here are six (6) of the reasons.

(1) The Lack of Spiritual Capacity to Handle Such Answer

God is our heavenly Father and He always desires consistent intimacy with Him. He is of full apprehension of the answers our spiritual status can handle per time, so he wouldn't give us what out spirituality cannot handle.

God is merciful and jealous, He wouldn't give us if there is an assurance of you using the money for sinful acts or derailing from Him.

(2) When God Has Something Greater Than Our Request

Most times, we pray consistently on a request and see no instant result. It could be that God has something greater than our demands which He would release at an appointed time.

When God says "No", it is because a bigger "Yes" will follow. Our minds are not configured to conceive beforehand God's thoughts and plans for us (1 Corinthians 2:9). We only know they are good (Jeremiah 29:11). This oblivious state of our mind about His better plans makes us pray for lesser things.

We're intimately aware of the certitude that God will never do what is lesser or contrary to His plan or will for our lives. He never wants His people to settle for less but for bigger things. So, He refrains from giving our lesser requests and grants His bigger plan(s).

Therefore, whenever we experience delay in getting answers to some prayers, check this!

(3) In Order to Clear Testimonies’ Devourers

We're of full understanding that we live in a world of battles, contentions and victory. The world is not for funfair but warfare (1 Peter 5:8, 2 Corinthians 2:14). There are possessed individuals, powers and diabolic operations targeted at aborting answers to our prayers and breakthroughs (Psalm 74:20, Daniel 10:12-13, 1 Corinthians 16:9).

Many people who pray fail to acknowledge the existence of testimonies' devourers whose agenda is to prevent the delivery of released answers to prayers. But our God who sees all (2 Chronicles 16:9) would destroy the devourers and then in His time, will release the answers to His children’s prayers (Luke 20:42-43).

(4) Intention of Prayer

Many answers to prayer requests are delayed or truncated because of the motive for the requests (James 4:3, Jeremiah 17:10). Intention determines possession. Some prayers are born out of strife, jealousy and intention to intimidate, while some to satisfy selfish, fleshy and sinful desires.

Though we serve a prayer-answering God, but He'll not give what will not bring glory to His name and kingdom. Intention is the raw material for answered prayers. If God does not give you what you want, it is because it is not what you need.

(5) If The Answer Would Cause Danger

God so much cherish and value us that He wouldn't give us what would endanger our lives (Zechariah 2:8). He knows what we don't know, He sees the end from the beginning (Isaiah 55:9) and He knows what is good for us and would never release what is injurious to our precious lives and destinies.

In prayers, out of desperation many ask for what they think is "good" for them which truly are not by God's analysis and omniscience.

(6) Iniquity

God's eyes can’t behold sin and the sinners' requests, let alone answer them (Isaiah 59:1-2). Those who access His Throne, His Court and His Hill are those with pure hearts and hands. Iniquity makes one inaccessible to God (Habakkuk 1:13).

The praise and prayer of a sinful man is an abomination to God. The Lord's hands are able to save, and His ears are receptive to hear but iniquity hinders His intervention (2 Chronicles 7:14)

We should, however, note that when God seems "late" in granting our desires, it is because He wants to come big. God does not do mega things in a hurry. Major scriptural miracles were not done in a hurry.

To intervene swiftly to Lazarus' ill state and heal him would have been a small miracle but waiting to let him die and raise him from the dead was a mega miracle (John 11:1-45). To have miraculously increased the quantity of the wine at the wedding in Cana would have been a small miracle, but waiting till it got exhausted and turning water to wine was a bigger miracle (John 2:1-11).

Also, consider the approval of Jesus' death and the mega miracle of raising Him from the grave. I say again, when it seems that God is late, wait for Him, He is coming bigger than you can ever imagine!

Do you know any other reasons not mentioned why God may not answer one's prayer requests? Kindly share with us and help fellow believers avoid the pitfalls of having their prayers unanswered.

Thank you greatly for taking time to read and please do share with others!

*** Written by Clement Oladepo ***

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