Why does prayer sometimes not work?

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea, and it will be removed." Yes...but now I must ask about the prayers that were not answered according to the persons desires. I used to pray a lot about the salvation of my loved ones. Not just me, but I would listen to pastors on the radio and tv, and called in many of them with that request. Yet it didn't occur, and over time, even till now, if anything, it looks like they got as far away as ever from God!! {Also, other categories I prayed about, but the problem remained}. {And yes, I BELIEVED it would happen, because I reasoned, "once God is brought into it, now for sure, it must happen!! But no. And to show it's not "just me", I read on another Christian site that someone prayed for someones sick dog, and the dog still soon died!! And other Christians who, even on here, state they've been praying for a specific problem for a long time, and the situation didn't change!! {So it's not just me, by the way.} Now wondering about these cases when the prayer doesn't work. {Oh, and I have a Christian neighbor who said she prayed for her mother to be healed, but she still died, is another example.} So wondering what's up with these cases.

 

[Steven Bobb]

God Always answers with Yes and Amen if you pray the way He instructs! It's not my way, it's God's Way, it's God's Word my friend

If God wants people miserable and extremely miserable until they get that, that's God's Way

Yeah but you sidestepped my question, how to explain when I thought negative, and things surprised me and worked out, and when I thought positive and they didn't? If our thoughts influence everything....

 

[Brother James]

Yeah but you sidestepped my question, how to explain when I thought negative, and things surprised me and worked out, and when I thought positive and they didn't? If our thoughts influence everything....

Our thoughts are foolish, our wisdom is foolishness. Our thoughts influence nothing, it's just a coincidence if you think that they do.

Bottom line is if you have no joy of the Lord than you have no strength to follow Him, no strength to stand in Him or stand in His teachings, instructions nor His Word.

I'm not just talking to you ###, this is an open forum. If God doesn't want you or anyone else to count it all as joy than you can't. If God doesn't want you or anyone else to walk in His Strength and His Power than you can't

 

[Steven Bobb]

Our thoughts are foolish, our wisdom is foolishness. Our thoughts influence nothing, it's just a coincidence if you think that they do.

Bottom line is if you have no joy of the Lord than you have no strength to follow Him, no strength to stand in Him or stand in His teachings, instructions nor His Word.

I'm not just talking to you ###, this is an open forum. If God doesn't want you or anyone else to count it all as joy than you can't. If God doesn't want you or anyone else to walk in His Strength and His Power than you can't

I think God's will has something to do with the outcome. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed, "Father if possible let this cup pass from Me, BUT NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE." If God has His plans of something happening in a certain way, and our prayers are different of what His will is, His will will prevail over our prayers, or He may grant us something, but in His way, not ours. That's happened to me too.

 

[Beesteland]

When we pray we must also be still and listen to God so that we can hear when He answers our prayers. When we pray we should not go to the alter with a shopping list and expected answers. Ephesians 6:12. Sometimes we don't get what we prescribe to God. We must be patient and listen in good faith.
When we pray for a sick person there are two options. We prescribe to God physical healing whilst God gives spiritual healing and the sick person dies but spiritually healed and at peace.
We can't be referees and players.
God is always in control and He answers prayers. I have a testimony.

Amen, plz share the testimony, I would love to read&meditate on it. Looking forward to reading the testimony. Be blessed beloved.

 

[Beesteland]

I think God's will has something to do with the outcome. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed, "Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me, BUT NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE." If God has His plans of something happening in a certain way, and our prayers are different from what His will is, His will will prevail over our prayers, or He may grant us something, but in His way, not ours. That's happened to me too.

Correct brother, perfect message, be blessed. God's will is not our will. Very correct & we shouldn't be predictors when we ask, just place on His table & patiently wait for His will at the right time in the right place, that's His nature wooowww!!

 

[Beesteland]

God has stepped into my life more than once and helped me or others that I prayed for. Even though it hurts because my mom passed away this year, I know that she's in a better place and that God watches over her. I never wanted her to suffer and she had some rough years. Sometimes our prayers aren't answered exactly how we want them to be, but that's all right because it can turn out to be okay in the long run.

Amen!! true this. I love the message. Keep the holy spirit flowing, heaven is the home forever. I would love my soul to be safe than my useless flesh.

 

[Beesteland]

"If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, be removed and cast into the sea, and it will be removed."Yes...but now I must ask about the prayers that were not answered according to the persons desires. I used to pray a lot about the salvation of my loved ones. Not just me, but I would listen to pastors on the radio and tv, and called in many of them with that request. Yet it didn't occur, and over time, even till now, if anything, it looks like they got as far away as ever from God!!{Also, other categories I prayed about, but the problem remained}. {And yes, I BELIEVED it would happen, because I reasoned, "once God is brought into it, now for sure, it must happen!!But no. And to show it's not "just me",I read on another Christian site that someone prayed for someones sick dog, and the dog still soon died!!And other Christians who,even on here, state they've been praying for a specific problem for a long time, and the situation didn't change!!{So it's not just me, by the way.} Now wondering about these cases when the prayer doesn't work.{Oh, and I have a Christian neighbor who said she prayed for her mother to be healed, but she still died, is another example.}So wondering what's up with these cases.

I would love to say that God answers our prayers but according to how we have asked(talk about faith&repentance). On the other side, God needs patience; we as humans expect an immediate response from God which happens to some of us & some not. Now.... those who don't receive a faster reply/fulfillment from God will lose faith, start complaining, grumbling, backsliding, staggering in general & God will put a full stop, watches you struggling, crying here & there till you say our Lord's prayer & start afresh. I would love to say to all Christians & believers of any religion to remain steadfast when we present our problems to God. He really answers with love & mercy. May God forgive our sins & grant our hearts' desires. Be blessed everyone. Love Jesus right from your heart, not church, not face/actions etc.

 

[Brother James]

I think God's will has something to do with the outcome. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed, "Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me, BUT NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE." If God has His plans of something happening in a certain way, and our prayers are different from what His will is, His will will prevail over our prayers, or He may grant us something, but in His way, not ours. That's happened to me too.

We can know what His Will is if we are listening to Him and doing His Instructions and claiming His Promises

If I have a friend that I hope becomes saved, I will ask Jesus to save them if it be His Will, yet my house or my family I can claim them saved and thank God/Jesus and wait quietly, continuing to thank Jesus for what He is doing for them rather than complain if it hasn't happened as of yet

 

[Brother James]

I think God's will has something to do with the outcome. When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and prayed, "Father, if possible, let this cup pass from Me, BUT NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS BE DONE." If God has His plans of something happening in a certain way, and our prayers are different from what His will is, His will will prevail over our prayers, or He may grant us something, but in His way, not ours. That's happened to me too.

2 Corinthians 1:20

For all the promises of God in Him are Yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

God's Will is in His Instructions, His Word for us to Always get a Yes and Amen ###

Acts 16:31

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house!

My house is saved! Thank You, Praise You Lord Jesus for Your Word is Truth! Glory to You Lord Jesus!

 

[Wittengberg]

God is worthy of all praise, honor and glory. His word will never ever fail us. If He said... I will answer thee.... then it will happen. It could be today, tomorrow, a year from now or even at the time of our death. Like my ###, did not believe in Jesus. Drunk and lost, his life was a mess. But we kept praying and praying for him to get saved and be on their way to heaven. When we took him to the hospital he called on the Lord to save his lost soul. Jesus heard his prayer and Jesus saved him just before he passed away. I know I will see him in heaven. He was smiling and happy when he entered into the holy presence of God.