Unanswered prayer - five reasons

Often we are perplexed by what seem to be unanswered prayers. Various suggestions are made about why this happens, some connected to God’s will and others to human resistance. James provides a simpler reason when he says that we receive not because we ask amiss.

It is difficult to preach on such a topic pastorally because it is inevitable that each believer is concerned about it. So it was interesting for me to read a sermon today on James’ words by a nineteenth century Scottish preacher. What did he say?

First, he pointed out that we sometimes ask amiss when we pray for something for ourselves that God has not given a promise about. He noted that even Paul once asked amiss when he prayed for the thorn in the flesh to be removed. The preacher did not mean that we had to have a specific promise for each petition. He did mean though that what we pray about should be in line with divine promises.

Second, we can also ask amiss by praying with the wrong spirit or manner. It is common for some believers not to pray as children of the Father. When that happens, ‘cold reserve will take the place of open-hearted confidence.’

Third, it is also the case that we can attempt to pray without realising that we must be aware of the mediation of Christ as we pray. Our prayers will only be answered when offered in his name. True prayer renounces all dependence on self. Otherwise our prayers are self-righteous expressions.

Fourth, a right spirit of prayer will also be marked by strong desire and earnestness. One’s heart must be in it. ‘God counts not, but weighs man’s supplications.’ We must long for his answers. 

Fifth, we cannot pray appropriately if we are cherishing a sin or sins in our hearts. The sin could be personal pride, or it could be a refusal to forgive, or it could be unrighteous anger, or it could be unbelief, or it could be many other sins. But they all prevent answers to our prayers, and each one by itself is successful. 

Of course, I knew those reasons already. In fact, I have known them for decades. Yet my response to the sermon should not be disappointment at reading nothing knew. Rather I should be thankful that the assessment of a physician of souls, who lived in the nineteenth century, was able to diagnose my spiritual health although he never met me.