By: Kyle Austin

Have you ever had a prayer that God just will not answer? Maybe it seems He's not interested in answering the prayer that you've been begging Him to answer. What do we do? How should you and I respond?

Can I say that unanswered prayers can become a big issue in our Christian lives if we allow it. Why? Because unanswered prayer can do this, It can cause our faith to become unstable. It can allow doubt to creep deep into our minds affecting how you and I view and think about God. It can cause us to become frustrated and angry with God because we're not seeing the answer to the prayer that He's promised to answer.

So, let's talk about this idea of unanswered prayer. Can I share with you that I've struggled many times throughout my Christian life wondering, "Why God are you not answering this prayer?" It seems that it's a good prayer. If it's for myself, I try to make sure it's not selfish. If it's for someone else, I understand that it's not self-centered. I have done everything in my power to do the model prayer, to pray with perseverance. Essentially, praying like I see throughout scripture, but yet the prayer is not answered. But as you and I think about this, don't let unanswered prayer drown you in frustration and despair.

Let me share with you three key truths that will help you when it comes to God not answering your prayers.

1. God's delays are not always God's denials. There are times when the answer to our prayer may come at a later time. Our timetable is completely different from God's timetable. God may need to orchestrate some events behind the scenes in order to answer your prayer. He may need to impress upon people's hearts to do certain things. He may need to coordinate doors of opportunity. Your prayer request may not be as simple as a one, two, three answer. There may be a lot that goes into orchestrating those events so It may take time to bring all that together.
2. God does answer "No" at times. Most everything in life right now in our culture is on demand. It's at the click of a button. We expect to get what we want when we want it. But God and our prayers are not on demand! God is not some magical genie lamp that we can rub and he comes out to give us three wishes that we get instantly. That's not the case at all. If you think about God as a loving father, imagine a parent giving their child everything their child wanted. There are times when my kids ask me for things or want to do stuff that would harm them or could possibly even take their life. So as a good father who loves and cares for them, I must say "no" to them. Sometimes God says "no" but we never like hear the word "no". There are times that God has to tell His children "no" or "not yet."
3. We must trust in God's character and His promises. We do not understand all that's going on in our lives but God does. He knows exactly what's going on in your life right now today. He knows specifically what's will be going on in your life tomorrow, next week, and next month. He knows what is absolutely best for you and I! In Luke 11:9-10 Jesus said this, "I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you 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." That sounds like a blank check for prayer! Jesus has signed His name and all we have to do is fill it in whatever we want. He goes on to give us a detailed explanation in 11:11-13, "If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him." We see this great contrast that if earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, God so much more will give us good gifts.

So when God is not answering our prayer, we must trust that God is giving us what is best. God has promised to answer our prayers only as it is consistent with His character. We understand that God is omniscient or all knowing. As He answers our 

prayer request He does so with the characteristic of being all knowing. He knows what's going to come to pass in our future. He answers our prayers with full 100% love, with kindness, and with goodness. He does so 100% just, 100% pure, and holy. So whether it's a delay or whether it is a denial, we have to trust in what we know to be true about God.

So when God is not answering your prayers, stop and consider if it is a delay or if it is a denial and consider the character of God displayed throughout the pages of scripture. When it comes to unanswered prayer, this maybe where we have to surrender ourselves to trusting in God who works all things for our good.