Why Doesn’t God Answer My Prayers - 14 Reasons
1. A husband's prayers are hindered if he dishonors his wife (1 Peter 3:7).
Prayers of a man who dishonors his wife are hindered, and God does not hear them.
A husband honors his wife if he respects her. A man who abuses his wife and oppresses her does not honor her. A husband who commits adultery against his wife also does not honor her.
Husbands are to love their wives the same way Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25).
Husbands should not be bitter or harsh towards their wives (Colossians 3:19).
Just because the husband is head of the family, disrespecting his wife is not an excuse. How we treat others is very important to God, and we should behave like Christ and treat others, including our spouses, with respect.
You can download the book Hope for Families that will teach you on how to improve the relationship with your spouse and family
2. Want something to fulfill your lustful passions (James 4:3).
The book of James says that some Christians ask for things so that they can consume them upon their lusts.
Lust can refer to sexual desire or overwhelming desires or cravings.
Some men ask God to provide them with more money or an expensive car so that they can attract women, especially younger women.
Some desires are caused by covetousness. They ask God for things because of jealousy and do not want to be outdone by others. Therefore they want things to boast about and compete with others. We see this problem on social media, where many people desire to be like celebrities and want more clothes or money to boast about them on social media.
God is not going to entertain prayers that will promote lust.
God will not provide for us things that will be harmful to us.
2.1. Asking for the right thing for the wrong reasons.
Whatever you do or ask for, God judges your motives.
Wrong reasons include wanting something to boast about on social media and elevate your ego and pride.
There is nothing wrong with asking God to help you get a job promotion. The problem is if you want a promotion to earn more money to buy expensive things to boast about on social media.
3. There is sin in your life (1 Peter 3:12).
The book of Peter says that he hears the prayers of the righteous and is against those who do evil.
Being saved by grace is not an excuse to live a life of sin.
There has to be a change in your life, and you need to repent. The first thing that Jesus preached was repentance (Mark 1:15)
According to Ephesians 4:24-29 Christians should no longer lie, steal or have corrupt communication.
Ask God for forgiveness for your sin (1 John 1:9) and help to change.
3.1. You are not forgiven because you refuse to forgive others (Matthew 6:15).
If you have not forgiven someone, then your sins will not be forgiven.
Having sins is a problem because God will not hear your prayers.
You need to forgive every person who has hurt you, even if it is difficult. You can access Forgive to Live free online course that will help you to forgive others and yourself.
4. You are asking for things that are not God's will (1 John 5:14).
The Bible says that God hears prayers in accordance with his will.
There are Christians who ask for things that will be harmful to them.
Some Christians ask for things that are against the Bible. Some Christian ladies ask God to convince their non-Christian boyfriends to marry them, although the Bible says not to be unequally yoked with non-believers (2 Corinthians 6:14)
4.1. God did not promise it, e.g., marriage, a life free from problems, etc.
This is related to the previous point, which is asking for things that are not God's will.
Many Christians are frustrated because they are not getting things from God. However, some ask for things that God has not promised in His Word.
Some people are frustrated at God because their marriage is falling apart and ask God to fix their marriage problems. The Bible does not say that Christians will not have marriage problems. The Bible tells us how married couples should treat each other, but there has not been a case where God forces someone to be a good husband or wife.
Some Christians are frustrated at God because they cannot find a spouse to marry, although there is no promise in the Bible that says Christians will find someone to marry.
Some want a life free from problems, although the Bible says there will always be problems in this world (John 16:33, Mark 10:30). Rather, pray to God for the strength to overcome your trials.
You are not free from problems just because you are a Christian.
There is nowhere in the Bible where God promises you that you will be rich. This is the false prosperity Gospel. The Bible says that people who do not want to work should not eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
4.2. Asking God to infringe on someone else's free will.
Many Christians understand that God has given them free will, but for some odd reason, some Christians expect God not to take other people's free will into account. So, for example, God will not force someone to love you.
However, you get the following scenarios:
Some Christians are angry at God if their spouse no longer wants them and want God to force their spouse to no longer commit adultery or not divorce them.
Some Christians are angry at God that someone does not want to marry them.
Some Christians are angry at God because their parents did not love them or abandoned them. God will not force a parent to be responsible.
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5. God provides needs, not wants (Philippians 4:19)
The book of Philippians says God supplies needs, and many, because of the false prosperity gospel, expect God to give them their wants. Therefore consider if what you want is truly a need; otherwise, you might not get it.
Abraham and Solomon were rich in the Old Testament. However, riches are not spoken about in the New Testament. Instead, self-denial is spoken about. Jesus once told a man to sell what he has, give to the poor and follow Him (Matthew 19:21). None of the disciples were rich, and they did not ask for riches.
Jesus also said it is easier for a camel to walk through the needle's eye than for the rich to enter the heavenly kingdom (Matthew 19:24).
There is nothing wrong with riches, but it should not be the focus of Christians.
You might want a job, but you are already getting shelter, clothing, and food without it. Therefore a job is not a need in your case but a want.
6. The time is not right (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).
God gives you the right thing at the right time. Therefore you need to be patient.
We need to pray without ceasing until the time is right.
Sometimes we want something too soon, and we must develop ourselves before receiving the blessing.
6.1. You need to make some changes in your life.
Some people cannot handle certain things because of a lack of maturity, resources, or experience.
For example, David was anointed as king when he was a teenager, but became king when he was an adult.
You want to get a husband but do not fulfill the character mentioned in Proverbs 31. You do not want to be submissive to any man and have a bad temper. Therefore you need to develop the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
I came across a young man who wanted to get married at the age of 20 and did not have a job. Such a man should not be asking for a wife if he does not have the means to care of her.
7. You have doubt (James 1:6).
Fear and lack of faith cause our prayers to be hindered.
The Bible says that a man that doubts is like a sea wave that is tossed about and is unstable in his ways. Such a man should not expect anything from God.
The Bible says that without faith, we cannot please God.
Jesus says that things will be done according to your faith.
8. God has something better (Jeremiah 29:11).
God has plans for us already that will benefit us and make us happier.
We are sometimes clueless about what is best for us, but God knows.
You might think that what you want is the best for you. Trust God to supply your needs.
9. Asking for something that will cause you to be away from God (1 Corinthians 10:14).
Some Christians make things and people into idols.
Some Christians ask God to help them be accepted into a university or degree. Then they stop attending church because they say they are too busy studying. Then they get angry at God when they no longer have the funds to pay the tuition for the following year.
Some Christians marry and stop going to church to spend more time with their spouses. Then they get angry at God when their spouse commits and wants to divorce him.
Idolatry is limited to worshipping anything other than God and placing something or someone above God. God is not going to entertain prayers that lead to idolatry.
10. The answer to your prayer will not result in God being glorified (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Some Christians ask for things that will dishonor God.
The Bible says whatever we do should be for the glory of God.
Before praying for something, ask whether it will glorify God or not. Will it only please yourself, or will it also please God?
11. You are reaping what you have sown (Galatians 6:7).
When we sin and repent and ask for forgiveness, God forgives us. However, forgiveness does not mean that God removes the consequence of sin.
For example, David committed adultery with Bathsheba and got her husband killed. God forgave him, but it did not mean that he did not have to face the consequence of his sin (2 Samuel 12:10-11).
Some people fornicate and get an incurable STD. God forgives them, but they might have to live with that disease for the rest of their lives, and it is a waste of time to pray for healing.
Therefore instead of asking God to remove the consequences of your sin, ask for more grace and power or strength to endure the suffering. Jesus said that His grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9).
12. The prayer also needs you to take action.
Some Christians mistakenly believe that they should just pray and do nothing else.
Taking action does not mean that you do not have faith.
For example, when king Hezekiah prayed and asked God to heal him, God told him that figs should be placed on his boil to receive the healing (2 Kings 20:7). Therefore, his prayer was followed by action.
Some Christians are sick and refuse to take medicine because they think that taking it is a sign of a lack of faith.
Some men ask God for marriage but do not ask any woman at church out on a date.
Consider what action you have not taken after praying.
13. You did not do the last thing that God told you to do.
Some Christians' lives are not progressing because they did not do the last thing God told them to do.
The story of Abraham is a good example. God told Abraham to leave his family in Genesis 12:1 (except for his wife) and journey to a land He would show him. However, Abraham also took Lot with Him. God did not speak to Abraham again until Lot left Abraham to go to Sodom (Genesis 13:14).
Think about the last thing God told you to do and did not do. Sometimes people are not receiving a response from God because of disobedience or partial obedience.
14. Your prayer is unrealistic.
God can do anything, and some Christians want to take advantage of this.
Some want God to help them to enroll in a college or university but do not meet the academic requirements.
Some want a job as a manager but do not have the experience or qualifications or are lazy. Proverbs 22:29 indicates that diligent, skillful workers are the ones that get far in their careers/businesses and eventually meet important people like kings.
I met a Christian who wanted God to heal their grandmother, who was 96 years old. Yes, God can prolong the life of a 96-year-old, and some people in the Bible lived up to 120 years, but why should God prolong the life of her grandmother, who has lived almost a century? The biblical characters were actively doing things for God, which justified their long life. Let us also remember that we all die at the end.
