Biblical Answer

The Point of Prayer: Understanding God's Answer

Understanding the Purpose of Prayer

The question of why God doesn't answer prayer can be a challenging one to confront. However, it's essential to recognize that prayer is not about getting answers from God, but about having a perfect and complete oneness with Him. When we pray with the expectation of receiving answers, we can become frustrated and disappointed when we don't get what we want. This is not the purpose of prayer. Prayer is about communing with God, seeking His will, and aligning ourselves with His desires.

The Importance of Faith and Obedience

The Bible warns us that simple unbelief can lead to prayerlessness and failure to receive answers from God (James 4:2). When we pray, we must pray in faith, asking according to God's will (James 1:6-8). We must also pray with a heart that is surrendered to God's sovereignty and plans. Sometimes, God's answer to our prayers is not what we expect or want, but it is still an answer. We must learn to trust God's wisdom and sovereignty, even when we don't understand His ways. The Bible teaches us to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) that God may reward our faith in His righteous judgments.

The Assurance of God's Answer

The Bible assures us that God listens to our prayers (1 Kings 8:52; Psalms 6:9) and answers them. Even when we don't receive the response we are requesting, our prayers are not in vain (1 Corinthians 10:31). God has a purpose and plan for our lives, and prayer is a vital part of that plan. We can be confident that God will answer our prayers when we ask Him for something that accords with a specific promise or command of Scripture. In such cases, we know what God's will is, because He has told us, and we simply need to trust and obey. The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have a deeper relationship with Him and to align ourselves with His will. When we pray in faith, obedience, and surrender, we can be assured that God will answer our prayers in His perfect timing and according to His sovereign plan.