Your Bible & You - Little Book Open.org

YOUR BIBLE AND YOU
W h y S o m e P r a y e r s A r e N o t A n s w e r e d
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Why Some Prayers
Are Not Answered
As you continue to read your Bible, many questions are bound to arise in
your mind. And no wonder; for truth is so limitless that no one can hope to
compass it in any brief period of time.
Occasionally you may stumble on an answer accidentally, but usually it has
to be searched for with diligence. Sometimes you may see it as a flash of
light from heaven, but more often you will find it only after careful study
and earnest prayer. Possibly you will need help from your pastor or a reliable
Bible correspondence course.
In a book of this size it would be impossible to consider all the problems
that might occur to a wide diversity of readers. Consideration will be given,
however, to a few that most frequently arise.
One such question concerns answered prayer. Perhaps you have asked it
yourself. If God is a God of love, why doesn’t He answer all my prayers
As noted in previous chapters, there is no doubt about God’s willingness
to answer. “Call unto me, and I will answer,” He says (Jeremiah 33:3). Again:
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be
opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh
findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7, 8).
Nor is there any doubt about God’s ability to answer. He is “able to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20).
Nevertheless it is clearly evident, from everybody’s experience, that some
prayers are not answered. Why Are any conditions attached to prayer
There are indeed. Here are seven:
1. You must have faith. “Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if
you have faith” (Matthew 21:22, RSV). You must believe that God is able
to do what you ask Him to do. “Without faith it is impossible to