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Unanswered Prayers

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 29, 1915

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 92, No. 21.

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Unanswered Prayers

By G. B. Thompson

MANY complain that their prayers are not answered. They say, “I pray daily, but the answer does not come.” Some, because of this, have grown discouraged and ceased to pray.
Now there are conditions in prayer. Jesus says, “What things soever ye desire when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” Mark 11:24. To receive answers to our prayers we must believe God. Do you believe? or are you like the woman who prayed for a mountain in front of her door to be removed, and on arising in the morning found it there, just as she expected? The Lord has asked those who lack wisdom to “ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.” James 1:5-7. Is this your trouble? Are you restless, fretful, and vacillating, like the waves of the sea? Do you possess a sort of “up and down” experience, believing today and doubting tomorrow, hoping God heard you, but not quite sure, wavering between doubt and certainty? If so, the Lord has said you will not receive anything. Your part is to believe. Can’t you believe God? Can you find a single instance in all God’s dealings with men where he ever failed to keep his word? Until you can put your finger on one single promise he has failed to keep, you ought to believe God, and rest in his word.
Another reason why some prayers are not answered is that we ask amiss. “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” James 4:3. The motive is wrong; we pray with a selfish purpose, for our honor instead of God’s; so, in order that we may not be inflated with pride and be lost, the Lord withholds from us the thing which we covet. The Pharisees prayed on the street corners to be seen of men. Their prayers were misdirected, they were intended to be heard of men, rather than of God, so they were rewarded accordingly. There is much in this. We should direct our prayers aright if we wish them to be answered. G. B. THOMPSON.