How to pray
Unanswered prayer, what the Bible says about waiting
· 3 min read
Unanswered prayer and what the Bible says about it, why God may not answer the way we ask, how long to keep praying, and how to keep trusting while you wait.
Unanswered prayer is one of the hardest parts of the Christian life. You keep asking, and nothing seems to change. The Bible doesn’t hide this. It is full of people who cried “How long, O Lord?” and kept praying, and it gives reasons to keep trusting God while you wait.
Why doesn’t God answer my prayers?
God hears the prayers of His children, but He answers according to His will and wisdom, not always in the way or at the time we ask. Sometimes He gives what we asked. Sometimes He gives something better than we knew to ask for. Some prayers stay open for years, and some we may not see answered in this life. Waiting is not a sign that God has stopped listening.
What does the Bible say about unanswered prayer?
The Bible shows that unanswered prayer is a normal part of faith, not a sign of failure.
- God’s ways are higher than ours. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8, ESV).
- Jesus prayed for the cup to pass. In Gethsemane, Jesus asked the Father to remove the cup, and then prayed, “Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42, ESV).
- Paul asked three times. Paul pleaded for relief from his thorn, and the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV).
- The psalmists waited. “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1, ESV). The same psalm ends, “I have trusted in your steadfast love” (Psalm 13:5, ESV).
- Some saw the promise from afar. Hebrews 11:13 says the faithful “died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar” (ESV).
- God gives good gifts. Jesus said that if earthly fathers give good things to their children, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him” (Matthew 7:11, ESV).
Scripture also asks us to examine how we pray. James 4:3 warns against asking “to spend it on your passions.” That is a call to bring our motives to God, not a reason to doubt that He hears us.
How long should I keep praying for something?
Keep praying for something as long as the need is still there. Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow “to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1, ESV). He told of a friend who kept knocking at midnight (Luke 11:5-10). Persistence is not trying to wear God down. It is how trust grows while you wait on Him.
Should I stop praying for it?
Stopping a long prayer is sometimes right and sometimes not. A prayer can come to a natural end when circumstances change or God makes His answer clear, as when Paul accepted the Lord’s answer about his thorn. Stopping because you feel discouraged is different. Tell God you’re discouraged. The Psalms are full of honest prayers like that.
How you pray may change over time. A prayer that starts as “Lord, change this” can become “Lord, help me trust You in this,” while you still ask for the thing you need.
How do I keep trusting God while I wait?
Trusting God during unanswered prayer starts with remembering what He has already done. Write down the prayers He has answered, and read them back when you’re tired of waiting. See how to keep a record of answered prayers. Hold on to His promise that “for those who love God all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28, ESV), even when you can’t see how yet.
Where do open prayers go in The Pray App?
The Pray App keeps prayers you’re still waiting on in Journey, under Still Seeking: “Prayers you’re faithfully bringing before God.” Each one shows how many days you’ve prayed for it. The prayers stay on your list until you mark them answered.
Journey keeps your record. Still Seeking sits below Stones of Remembrance, with the days you’ve prayed for each open prayer.
When God answers one, tap Answered on the card, write how He answered, and it moves to Stones of Remembrance. See how to look back on your walk with God.
The Pray App is free on the App Store.
Questions people ask
Why doesn't God answer my prayers?
God hears the prayers of His children, but He answers according to His will and wisdom, not always the way or the time we ask. Some prayers are answered differently than we hoped, and some we may not see answered in this life.
How long should I keep praying for something?
Jesus told a parable to show that "they ought always to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1, ESV). Keep praying as long as the need is there, and let your prayer grow into trust as you wait.
Is it wrong to stop praying for something?
Sometimes a prayer comes to a natural end, when circumstances change or God makes His answer clear, as Paul accepted God's answer about his thorn (2 Corinthians 12:8-9). Stopping out of discouragement is different. Bring the discouragement to God too.
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- The ACTS prayer method, a simple guide with examplesThe ACTS prayer method explained, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, with a short example of each and Scripture to pray.
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