Have you ever been disappointed with God? I think that if we’re honest with ourselves, nearly all of us would answer with a resounding “yes!” I know I have. I have even let Him know it sometimes (as if He didn’t already know) by verbalizing my disappointment. Some of us have experienced it differently than others. You may look around you at the injustice in the world and wonder how God could allow such things to happen. You may be one of those who looks at disasters and doesn’t understand how a God of love could allow innocent people to be harmed or even killed by random disasters. You may have lost a loved one after praying for healing. You may be one of the ones who was passed up for the promotion you deserved after praying and believing for God’s favor. There are many scenarios that I could mention, but most of us, if we have been Christians for any length of time, have questioned some of God’s actions, or inaction.
Even Job had his questions regarding God’s answering of prayers. He said ” I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.” (Job 30:20)
Why is it that sometimes when we pray, we don’t get what we asked for? Does that negate Christianity or God’s word? As I’ve said before, we tend to justify God’s actions or inaction, as if He needed our justification. We justify not getting that promotion because God has something better for us. That loved one must have died because God needed them in Heaven, or their work here on earth was complete. My car must be broken down this morning because God was trying to save me from being in an accident. We tend to make excuses for God when He doesn’t come through like we think He should.
Why do our prayers seem to fall on deaf ears sometimes? I think it can be a matter of perspective. God loves us and does want the best for us, but sometimes we allow ourselves to get in our own way. God shows us favor in the smallest of things, but often doesn’t come through in what we perceive to be the big things. I think that it’s because we quite often have our priorities mixed up. What is important to us just isn’t all that important to God. See, God isn’t here to make us happy. He’s here to make us holy. When the reason that we want that promotion is because we want more stuff, it’s we who are concerned with the stuff, not God. God is concerned with our relationship with Him. God is concerned with how we are leading others into a relationship with Him. God is not always concerned with whether we drive a Lexus or a Chevy.
We have to keep in mind God’s purpose for mankind. The reason we are here is to be in a covenant relationship with God. The Bible says that when we become Christians, God adopts us into His family. We literally become adopted children of God. Those of us who have children know that we don’t often share priorities with our children. We don’t always understand the latest fashion craze or musical sensation that is so important to our children. It’s just not that important. It’s not that we don’t love our children, it’s that we are so busy trying to provide for them and help them realize their potential as adults that the latest CD by Wrong Direction doesn’t mean that much in the scheme of things.
The same is true of God. He’s concerned with our spiritual growth and our relationship with Him. This is not another justification for why we don’t always get what we want. It’s found in the Bible. In talking about asking for things in life Jesus says in Matthew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things [that we pray for] will be added to you. It doesn’t say to seek these things first and God’s righteousness will be added to you. God is concerned with our development, not our enjoyment. Does God want us to be happy? I’m sure He does. Jesus said that He came to earth so that we might have life to the full (John 10:10). But that isn’t God’s primary purpose in redemption. His purpose is relationship. When we ask for things that would assist us in living in, or even being tempted by, sin, God will not answer. Psalm 66:18 says If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; In other words, if I am continuing to allow sinful behavior in my life, my prayers will go unanswered. Just because it would make us happy (temporarily) does not mean that God is somehow obligated to indulge us in selfish prayers.
Getting our priorities straight is only one of the reasons that God may not have answered your particular prayer. This is not a catch-all discussion for unanswered prayer. It is simply an observation on one of the reasons God has not answered my prayers in the past. If we seek God first – put His priorities first – God will often answer those prayers. When He doesn’t, we must learn to trust.
Some additional reading can be found here: