We cannot always know why a prayer has not been answered in the way we hoped. The Bible includes people who waited for years, people who received a different answer, and people who carried pain without a neat explanation. Unanswered prayer is not proof that God has ignored you.
It is also not fair to assume that you lacked faith, used the wrong words or must be hiding some sin. Prayer is a relationship with God, not a technique for controlling outcomes. Jesus himself prayed in deep anguish before the cross, so disappointment and faithful prayer can exist together.
You can tell God exactly what the silence or delay is doing to you. Lament is prayer too. Keep asking, if you still have the strength, and let other people pray when you do not. Sometimes God’s care also arrives through practical help, medical care, wise advice or a person who turns up and stays.
At The Lakes Church, we do not want to offer a tidy answer where the Bible does not give one. We believe God hears prayer, but we also make room for grief, waiting and questions. You do not have to protect God from your honesty.
If you have questions, you can ask us anything at https://thelakes.org.au/contact-us/