Prayer is one of the most powerful ways to communicate with God and many of us do that diligently. We pray for so many things and we expect God to answer it. Sometimes our prayers are answered and sometimes it is unanswered. We cry and we complain and nothing ever happens out of it. Have we ever pondered on the reasons why our prayers might not have been answered? Do we ask God to reveal to us on why he isn’t answering it? Do we work on that?

Here is some of the reasons why your prayers might not have been answered. They are not really the exact reasons because God is Almighty and only he knows everything about each persons life and his plan and purpose for them. These reasons will help you study the scriptures and ponder on it and as you ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you, he in all his power will help you know the truth.

1.It might not be God’s Will

The thing which you are praying for might not be God’s will. God loves you so much that he knows everything and the thing which you desire and pray might not be his plan for you. God will give you only what is in his will and if you are obedient to accept only that which he is giving.(1 John 5:14-15)

2. Unforgiveness in Heart

Many a times when we pray, we have so much unforgiveness in heart towards someone or something which serves as a hindrance to God on answering our prayers. Before we pray we should make sure to forgive the person who wronged us and God will answer our prayers. (Mark 11:25-26)

3.It is not his time yet

Everything which happens in your life has a time and it is God’s time. God has a time for anything and everything and nothing ever happens out of his time. If you are expecting an answer to your prayers in your requested time, it might not happen and it will be answered only on the time God has set for it. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

4.You are not prepared yet

Many a times when we pray, we think we are prepared for what we are going to receive but its not true. We aren’t really been prepared for it. Whether it is a new job or marriage or buying something, God will answer that thing only when you are prepared for it spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

(Story of Joseph-Genesis 37-50-Before Joseph became the ruler of Egypt, God prepared Joseph by making him go through difficulties thereby giving him wisdom for solutions through problems, made him a chief servant in Pharaoh’s officer’s house thereby making him learn administration, made him jailed in prison thereby making him learn the importance of praying and waiting).

5.Living in Sin

So you want something but you are not living rightly. You keep sinning and you expect God to answer your prayers. God has clearly instructed us on the various types of sin and not to do it. Though our God is a gracious God who does not do according to our sin, yet he expects you to come out of your sin and live an upright life. When you confess your sins, he is just to forgive you and answer your prayers. (Proverbs 28:9 11:1,20 15:8 21:27 15:26 3:32 6:16 16:5 24:9)

6.Lack of Faith and Trust

You keep praying for your request fervently but you doubt whether you will receive it. You do not trust God that he will do it. God loves when we put our entire faith and trust in him to work wonders in our lives and hence till you get immense faith and trust on him, God will wait on you to answer your prayers. (Mark 11:24)

7.Season of healing from past wounds

You have forgiven the person who have wronged you but sometimes you still ponder about it and get irritated and annoyed.You are still holding onto your past and brooding over it. Moving out from past wounds, bitterness, resentment and grudges is a process and till you are 100% out of it, God will not answer your prayers for a new thing in your life. God wants you to forget it. (Isaiah 43:18-19)

8.God is expecting obedience in some thing

You might not be in sin or you might be doing all of the things above, but if God has specifically put in your heart to do something and if you had not obeyed it but praying for your own request, God might not answer it till you obey what he asked you to do. (Story of Jonah from the Book of Jonah)

9.Focus on the request and not on others

If you are very selfish about you and yourself and does not care about others, even then your prayers might not be answered. God likes us helping the poor and people in need and we have to do that diligently. (Proverbs 21:13)

10.Deep prayers needed

If you are praying only on the surface and not really from heart, then also your prayers might not be answered. Sometimes God requires fasting along with prayers and you need to do it if God had put that in your heart. God loves earnest and sincere prayers. (Though there are lot of examples in the Bible, the story of Esther is very remarkable on how she prayed with fasting and got what she requested)

Hence my dear friends, do not lose heart if your prayers are not answered.Ask God to reveal you the reason and wait on him obediently. Keep praying, waiting, seeking and knocking. God will answer in his time accordingly. Amen! God Bless You!