What to Do if You Pray and Your Prayers Aren't Answered

When something doesn't work, it's time to analyze the process. Let's approach the problem the way journalists gather news. They ask the five “W” questions. This method has worked for centuries. Here are the questions:
1.Who?
2.What?
3.When?
4.Where?
5.Why?

Now let's look at the answers . . .

Who? The answer seems obvious. Who? Me. I'm praying. No, the question is not about who is praying but to Whom you are praying. It is not about you. Real prayer is about the Maker of the universe, the Ruler of the world, your loving Father. Until you realize that God created you for His pleasure and that He loves to hear from you, His precious child, you are not praying. Instead you are thinking to yourself – worrying about your problem.

What? What are you asking? You can ask anything you wish. God will answer what you ask as long as you ask according to His will, through His Son, and in His Spirit. God will answer your prayer according to His will, your need, and your desire.

When? God will hear one little whispered prayer. The Bible speaks out against vain repetition, but it encourages repetition. Your Father pays attention to the fervent prayer of a righteous person. (The only righteousness that any human being has is the purity of Jesus on our behalf.)

Where? As a child of God, you can pray anywhere, but don't make a show. Jesus warned against praying in the street corner to get attention. The reward becomes the attention that men give, not the answer that God gives. No matter where you find a physical location to pray, the relevant answer to this question is the spiritual location: near to the heart of God. Now that Christ has come and paid the ultimate sacrifice, we can walk into the Holy of Holies under the cover of Christ's blood.

Why? Why does God not give you what you ask? If the answer is ”no” or “not now” you may think there was not an answer. Your Father who loves you will give you the good things you need. Sometimes the greatest gift is what you may have been calling unanswered prayer.