Christians believe that God is all-powerful. We believe God can do absolutely anything, and we place no limitations on His power. In fact, we believe He can “do immeasurably more than all we ask or even imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
That being understood, Christians often suffer the disappointment of prayers that seem to go unanswered. Believers, we know beyond the shadow of a doubt what God can do. We’ve witnessed His power first-hand. We have faith that can move mountains. When God doesn’t do what we know He can do, it leaves us asking questions like, “Does God answer prayer?”, “Is God punishing me?” “Does God even care about me?” If you have ever fasted and prayed and given all of your faith to a specific prayer need, and the answer didn’t come, you know the disappointment I am talking about.
I have good news for all of us today: God answers every prayer. Here are five answers to prayer that God can give:
1. Yes is the miraculous answer we hope for!
It is an amazing experience to witness God’s power at work. It encourages and emboldens our faith. Keep in mind that a yes answer is guaranteed when we pray for God’s will to be done in the name of Jesus Christ. See I John 5:13-15, John 14:12-14, John 15:5-8, Mark 11:22-26 and Matthew 18:19-20.
2. No is the answer we don’t want, but we must accept that it is an answer.
When I was a child, my friends and I often swam in the Lehigh River. Every so often, we would get the wild idea that we could build a dam across the river. We would start piling rocks in the shallows, and we would be encouraged as we could see the current being affected. However, as our rocks got into deeper water, they just wouldn’t hold. The current was too strong. It didn’t matter how hard we tried; we just couldn’t stop or even redirect the powerful current of the river.
Friends, there is an unmovable current that flows in the deep channel of God’s sovereign will. All of the faith and prayer in the world will not change it. When our prayers collide with that current, the answer will be no.
Jesus (Matthew 26:36-46) and Paul (II Corinthians 12) both received a no answer when they encountered the deep and unchangeable current of God’s sovereign will. If God was willing to say no to Jesus and Paul, then He will also say no to us when our prayers collide with His sovereign will. We don’t move God’s sovereign will; God’s sovereign will moves us.
Both Jesus and Paul prayed passionately, specifically, concisely (see Matthew 6:7-8), and with great faith (Mark 11:22-26). Both prayed three times. When the answer was clearly no, both got up and, with great determination, moved forward in obedience. When the answer is no, we must follow their example.
3. Wait, the timing isn’t right.
In John 9, we read the story of the man born blind. Without a doubt, his parents prayed that God would heal their son. God’s answer wasn’t no; it was wait. Jesus was going to come by and heal their son, but it would be a while. Wait is a hard answer, but it is an answer.
4. Grow, you aren’t ready.
Kids really don’t like this answer. They often ask us for things they can’t have yet because they need to grow up first. Whether it’s a cell phone, a dirt bike, or a driver’s license, the answer isn’t no, it’s grow.
I joked with our church family recently that the reason God hasn’t answered my prayer for a million dollars is because He knows I’m not mature enough to handle it. Frankly, I’m not sure I’ll ever be that mature – but I’m working on it!
5. Repent, you aren’t right.
God’s Word makes it clear that when we are living in disobedience, God doesn’t hear our prayers. See Isaiah 59:2, Micah 3:4, James 4:3, Matthew 6:15, Proverbs 21:13, Zechariah 7:11-13. For God to hear, disobedience must be reconciled through confession and repentance.
That may be hard to hear, but parents, don’t we say the same thing to our kids? We tell them to clean their room. They don’t do it. We ask again, and they still don’t do it. Later, they ask for something they want. Our answer, “Until you clean that room, I won’t even consider what you’re asking.” You’re not saying no; you’re simply explaining that obedience clears the way for blessing. It’s a great lesson to teach – and to learn.
Doing so isn’t punishment; it is discipline. Punishment is retribution for wrongdoing, while discipline is corrective training. According to Hebrews 12, God disciplines those He loves.
Punishment is retribution for an offense. It results in guilt and regret. God does not punish us. Jesus has already taken our punishment on Himself. See Isaiah 53:3-6. However, if we (the guilty) reject the substitutionary work of Jesus Christ (the Innocent) on our behalf, then our punishment remains.
God disciplines us because He loves us and because He has purpose for our lives. Are you being disciplined? Of course, you are. We all are. God loves us, and He has better things for us. He wants us to live in purpose and freedom. You are His child! Receive His correction, be obedient, and grow.
Does God answer prayer? He absolutely does, and as a good Father, He answers right in the moment we ask. Be encouraged. Walk boldly in your faith. Your Father loves you.
I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. I John 5:13-15
