Psalm: LK 1:69-70, 71-72, 73-75
Why are Our Prayers not Answered?
Dear brethren, in accordance with our today’s readings, I would like you to reflect with me on one of the fundamental questions Christians normally ask: “Why are my prayers not answered sometimes or take long to be answered?” It becomes hard to reconcile this question with Jesus’ teaching today in the gospel as he tells us to, “ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matt 7:7-8). If Jesus himself said this then why are our prayers sometimes not answered, or take long to be answered or answered in a different way?
Petitionary prayer is certainly a problem theologically. We address our prayers to God as a child would persuade a parent, begging to be allowed some indulgence, ‘Mummy, may I stay up late?’ But do we really think that God is going to change the course of the world, put the normal causes into reverse, at our prayers? What if one person is praying for fine weather at the seaside while a farmer is praying for rain to raise his crops? What if two opposing teams are praying for victory in a sports fixture? Does the most fervent side win? God cannot please both of us.
We must first understand that when Jesus says ask, find and knock and that he will answer, he means it. God is even more hospitable than we can ever think of him and gives even more than what we need. Jesus uses an analogy of a child who asks something from his Father and is given immediately and so, “If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” God is always ready to give us whatever we ask from Him if it is according to his will. Thus, the challenge often is with us and not God; perhaps we don’t get answers because of the following:
First, we, perhaps, go searching and believing where God has not called us to, we knock on the wrong door, or ask wrongly. And if we don’t get whet we ask for, then we start blaming and complaining about God. The question therefore for us all today is: do I express my faith wrongly by not knocking, seeking, and asking at the right place? Or perhaps we ask, search and knock with wrong motives. James 4:2-3 tells us that "...You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." Ask yourself: What do we ask of the Lord? Is what we ask for my good, the good of my neighbor and the good of all, or for selfish gains? How does it help your spiritual growth? I am sure, if it is what we deserve, God will give us, if we have good motives, we will receive. Just like if a child asks a knife from the father to cut himself, a father cannot give that knife to his child that he may cut himself, unless he is not a good father, God can never give us what is not good to us and not according to his will. Let's ask for what will help us build our relationship with God, with self and with the neighbors and we will surely receive.
Second, maybe we lack persistence in our prayers, we need quick answers and thus give up easily. Jesus tells a parable which I can call “The Parable of the Persistent Friend (Luke 11:5-8)” whereby a man goes to his friend's house at an inconvenient hour (at night when all the family is asleep), seeking help for a guest who has arrived unexpectedly. At first, the friend inside is unwilling to get up and provide the needed bread. However, due to the man's persistence, his "shameless audacity," the friend eventually gives in and provides what is needed. It was not only because of friendship that the man got up to give his friend bread but also because of his unwavering persistence. Do you pray with persistence?
Thirdly, maybe we lack unwavering and expectant faith when we pray. Faith has always been a prerequisite for God’s action in our lives. It is like giving a license to God to work and act in our lives. Though, Jesus assures us today to ask and we will receive, to seek and we will find, to knock and the door will be opened for us, and in another place that whatever we ask from the Father in his name, we shall receive, faith is a prerequisite. Faith understood in its real sense, is not a mere condition of God’s work in us, but it is that force that answers our prayers, a force that does miracles in our lives. We remember three levels of faith: Faithless, Wavering faith, Great faith. We must be at the level of great faith to get answers for our prayers. James tells us that the faithless cannot receive anything from God, unless they heed to his word (1:5-8) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
Fourthly, perhaps we don’t let prayer change our lives. We are all aware that our prayers do not change anything in God’s mind nor convince him in any way to give us what we ask from Him, but what prayer does is to change our lives and make them suitable and fertile to receive God’s graces and blessing and thus bear fruit. If we don’t let prayer change our lives, especially in our actions, then we can never expect any good fruit or answer from our unwavering and persistent prayers. The words search, ask and knock in themselves imply action; our prayer must be expressed in action.
If we’re wise, however, we’ll follow St. Paul’s recommendation and praise God! “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (Thessalonians 5:16-18). We must be above all thankful to the most hospitable God that he gives us the best and the greatest gift one will ever imagine: the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will guide us to get what we need. Sometimes we don’t receive because we are not grateful and lack hospitality to others. While the promise is clear, it's essential to remember that God's timing and wisdom are perfect. He knows what is best for us, even when our requests are not immediately granted. His delays are not denials, but opportunities for growth, refinement, and alignment with His plan.
Let us Pray.
Lord, you are the giver of all good things. Sometimes I get caught up in this world, becoming attached to its goods and forgetting that you give gifts of infinite value. Lord, please help me to seek what is truly valuable. I desire to belong completely to you. Please, continue to draw me nearby you. Amen
Be blessed.
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