There are three responses to any prayer to God. Sometimes the answer is "No." Sometimes it is a "Yes." Sometimes it is a "Yes, but not now."
God will not answer a prayer that is not in accordance with His Will, and we should not bother to pray for such things.
Why does God take time to answer prayers might be a question that you often ask yourself.
There are certain prayers that get answered more quickly than others. Some prayers take longer to be answered even if they are in accordance with God's Will.
1. The prayer request relates to an emergency.
Most of us are impatient and want our prayers answered as soon as possible. However, not all prayers need to be answered quickly. For example, a prayer request relating to a life-or-death scenario is more likely to be answered quickly.
Example: When king Jehoshaphat prayed for help against Israel’s enemies (2 Chronicles 20).
2. The prayer request is a need, not a want.
There are a few occasions in my life where God has answered a prayer for what I did not need but only wanted. The Bible promises that God shall supply what we need (Philippians 4:19).
According to the Bible, we should be content if God provides us with food and clothing (1 Timothy 6:8-9)
Example: Look at the Israelites; they were in the desert for 40 years and had the same clothing and sandals, which did not wear out (Deuteronomy 29:5)
This truth will probably depress those who believe in the false prosperity gospel and want expensive houses, cars, and high-paying jobs.
Many Christians are unemployed, but their need for food and clothing is met. There is no Bible verse that says that food and clothing can be supplied only through having a job. Furthermore, some people have family members supporting them; therefore, these needs are satisfied, and a job is not needed.
Since only food and clothing are needed, then it means that marriage, children, cars, etc., are not a need, but want.
Some women are frustrated that they are barren and are frustrated at God. However, children are not a need, and there is no promise in the Bible that says Christians are guaranteed to have children.
3. The prayer request has many beneficiaries.
I have noticed that if I ask God for something that will only help my family or me, it will take longer than if it will also benefit people who are not a part of my immediate family.
Example: If you promise God that, if you land a job, you will donate a portion of your salary to an orphanage each month, your prayer for employment is more likely to be granted quickly because it does not only benefit you and your family. You must, however, follow through on your word and never fail to honor it.
Proverbs 19:17 says that God will repay those who give to the poor.
4. The prayer request is aligned with God’s interests.
When we align our interests with God’s interests, then we are more likely to get a fast answer to our prayers. Of course, God’s main desire is for everyone to get saved.
If you pray for God to do something that will result in the salvation of someone else, then there is a high possibility that your prayer will be answered.
Example: Hannah had been barren for a long time, but when she prayed and asked God for a son and said that her son would be dedicated to God, God answered her prayer quickly (1 Samuel 1:9-11).
5. Praying for others (Intercessory Prayer).
When I pray for others and ask God to help those who have the same problems as me, my prayers get answered faster than when I am only praying for myself. Likewise, when God sees you behaving selflessly and sees that you desire others to change or overcome their problems or also obtain something you want, God acts faster in answering your prayers.
Once, at a bible study, we were talking about prayer. One of the men there claimed he had prayed for his wayward children for a very long time but had not noticed any progress until another churchgoer requested him to pray for her wayward kids. So he chose to pray for this woman's children to change. He claimed that once he began doing this, he noticed that his children's conduct was altering and that his prayer had been heard.
Example: When the followers of Jesus prayed for Peter in prison (Acts 12:5-7), their prayer got answered quickly.
6. Prayers that always get answered quickly.
The following prayers will be answered quickly, regardless of the situation.
- Prayer for God’s protection.
- Prayer for discernment.
- Prayer for wisdom.
- Prayers for salvation.
- Prayers for forgiveness of sins.
- Prayer for guidance.
- Prayer for the Holy Spirit.
7. Important consideration
God cannot be manipulated, you cannot twist His arm, and you cannot make Him do anything.
You could pray a prayer that benefits more than 30 people, and God can still say “No.” He sees the overall picture. What you are asking could be what is good, but He knows of something better.
However, in general, the trend that I have seen is that my prayers, where I only considered myself, got answered after months or even after years. And my selfless prayers or where others were considered got answered sooner.
