Why aren’t my prayers being answered?
Did you ever ask that question? We all do. Sometimes, God seems distant. Sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says yes and exceeds in His provision of what we ask Him.
This lovely lady writes this note after hearing my presentation:
I can’t tell you how truly moved I was, ways beyond words. …
The Lord has not only healed you and taught you forgiveness, but has filled your life with such joy that I can only imagine! Oh, how I envy that!
All our lives, in one way or another, have been filled with love, joy, pain and loss. We all try to deal with each in our own way. Some met with success, others with failure. I’ve tried to find strength in those painful moments, with the faith that I was raised. And I must admit, there have been times I have wondered where God was, especially in those life-altering devastating times, as I fervently recited the prayers of my youth.
But listening to you tonight—filled with such complete joy, love and praise for the Lord, I realized that no matter how hard I’ve tried, no matter how hard I’ve prayed; how many Sundays I’ve gone to Mass and recited the rote prayers and responses, something is missing. And I couldn’t figure out what it was. …
Until I realized that you have found what I need to find—a relationship with God that I’ve been missing. Pat
Wow! I hear what Pat is saying.
I was where she is now. Trusting in memorized prayers, hoping God would be more attentive if I obeyed Him by using the correct way to pray.
But when life became really ugly, desperation set in and hopelessness threatened to come in, I learned these truths about prayer.
• Religion should not dictate the way we should pray.
• God is attentive to our heart’s cries rather than our memorized recitations.
• God knows our needs before we even speak them.
• God is already working on the answer.
• He requires our patience and faith to increase even when no answers appear.
• God expects us to spend moments to be still before Him.
• He delights when we know His promises so well that we repeat them back to Him.
• And God expects our gratitude no matter what answer He gives.
Prayer isn’t a one-way thing, but a dialogue with Him in the comfort of a close relationship. We speak, and He speaks back through His Word. We ask and repeat what He promised. We believe, and He rewards our faith. We trust in His answer, and He never disappoints us. {eoa}
Janet Perez Eckles is an international speaker and the author of four books. She has helped thousands conquer fear and bring back joy.
This article originally appeared at janetperezeckles.com.
