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.

 

[Sundertide]

Prayers are answered, just not in the way we would Like it to be answered.

 

[Martha Buthelezi]

"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.

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 prescibe 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.

 

[The Encourager]

Prayer always works. God answers with a Yes, No, Not Now (Wait), or I have something better for you.

Pray and ask God whatever you go through, you learn what God wants You to learn, and not waste the experience. Then focus on God, Relax, learn from it, and grow from it. God is in complete control.

🗝And always remember Obedience is better than Sacrifice. We Sacrifice our blessings by not obeying God's Word and Will for our lives. Just Obey God.

 

[Brother James]

"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.

If you want God/Jesus to Always answer your prayers with a Yes and Amen you must pray the ways that He instructs us to pray and you must do the things that He asks you to do Steven. If you believe that God promises to save your house than claim that and wait for it but you can't claim your mother or your sister saved and then complain about them. When you ask others to pray for you but you are not willing to count your situation as joy or stop thinking about it why do you think God will bless you with what you want? God/Jesus always blesses with a Yes and Amen if you know how to ask of Him with a thankful joyful heart. Doesn't Jesus say the joy of the Lord is our strength? If you aren't willing to have joy or ask for joy than where is your strength to tell the mountain to be cast to the sea? Why should the mountain obey if you aren't willing to have the strength? If we think about ourselves yet God's thoughts are better than why not grow closer to God/Jesus by stopping ourselves from thinking about ourselves just like I did by claiming the Words of Jesus repeatedly? I take no thought for myself over and over. We have to reprogram ourselves to do things God's Way if we always want a Yes and Amen from Him. If you are not willing to follow Christ's Instructions than how can you possibly have the same strength to do everything Jesus did?

 

[Fraserr]

God always has answered all my prayers. He is a wonderful Father in heaven who love us with an everlasting love. I asked to heal me from cancer and He did. I asked to fix my teeth, He did. I asked for revival coming to our church. It is coming. I have asked to fill us with the spirit of the living God, He did. Now, sometimes we ask something that is amiss with His will or we do not have enough faith to believe that will happen, then it will no come to us. Sometimes we have to wait years to the prayer to happen. Jesus clearly told us. Pray without ceasing. So, if you did not have your prayer answered, continue to pray, ask the Lord to have mercy and compassion. The answer will come when you less expected it to happen.

 

[Steven Bobb]

If you want God/Jesus to Always answer your prayers with a Yes and Amen you must pray the ways that He instructs us to pray and you must do the things that He asks you to do Steven. If you believe that God promises to save your house than claim that and wait for it but you can't claim your mother or your sister saved and then complain about them. When you ask others to pray for you but you are not willing to count your situation as joy or stop thinking about it why do you think God will bless you with what you want? God/Jesus always blesses with a Yes and Amen if you know how to ask of Him with a thankful joyful heart. Doesn't Jesus say the joy of the Lord is our strength? If you aren't willing to have joy or ask for joy than where is your strength to tell the mountain to be cast to the sea? Why should the mountain obey if you aren't willing to have the strength? If we think about ourselves yet God's thoughts are better than why not grow closer to God/Jesus by stopping ourselves from thinking about ourselves just like I did by claiming the Words of Jesus repeatedly? I take no thought for myself over and over. We have to reprogram ourselves to do things God's Way if we always want a Yes and Amen from Him. If you are not willing to follow Christ's Instructions than how can you possibly have the same strength to do everything Jesus did?

That's why I mentioned other people bersides me, because I knew you were going to personalize it to me. I guess that applies to all the other people, including Christians, who's prayers didn't go the way they wanted?I'm not even talking about prayers for evil reasons, like strike someone down, etc. It could even be prayers for others, for healing or salvation, so it's not always "selfish prayers" I was referring to.Also, most of my own prayers were BEFORE my "cynisismth set in, at that time I did have faith.But still...Like, one troublesome person I was dealing with,was causing me problems for a long time, and I prayed to have her taken out of my life,for my own peace of mind. After praying with a prayer partner on a prayer line,and saying Amen to it, I WAS confident then, figuring,if anything should do it, that should.But what happened?Soon after the prayers, the phone rings ,and looking at the cell phone screen , guess who?Yup!!{Eventually I blocked her number,and that did the trick.}If everything goes by our "thoughts"and "state of mind", explain why I've had times when I saw no way out of a bad situation, and was very "negative" about my chances,yet, by some quirk of circumstances, some miraculous change of events happened and I was deliveredAnd the other extreme, I've had where I "thought" that everything was well in hand,and some freakish thing happened that screwed me, WITH my positive thoughts. So explain when things sometimes go opposite of your "thoughts."In the end, God is God, not our "thoughts."

 

[Steven Bobb]

God always has answered all my prayers. He is a wonderful Father in heaven who love us with an everlasting love. I asked to heal me from cancer and He did. I asked to fix my teeth, He did. I asked for revival coming to our church. It is coming. I have asked to fill us with the spirit of the living God, He did. Now, sometimes we ask something that is amiss with His will or we do not have enough faith to believe that will happen, then it will no come to us. Sometimes we have to wait years to the prayer to happen. Jesus clearly told us. Pray without ceasing. So, if you did not have your prayer answered, continue to pray, ask the Lord to have mercy and compassion. The answer will come when you less expected it to happen.

Well that's true, I've had where at some time later the situation was straightened out.

 

[NeedToCancelAccount]

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.

 

[Brother James]

That's why I mentioned other people bersides me, because I knew you were going to personalize it to me. I guess that applies to all the other people, including Christians, who's prayers didn't go the way they wanted?I'm not even talking about prayers for evil reasons, like strike someone down, etc. It could even be prayers for others, for healing or salvation, so it's not always "selfish prayers" I was referring to.Also, most of my own prayers were BEFORE my "cynisismth set in, at that time I did have faith.But still...Like, one troublesome person I was dealing with,was causing me problems for a long time, and I prayed to have her taken out of my life,for my own peace of mind. After praying with a prayer partner on a prayer line,and saying Amen to it, I WAS confident then, figuring,if anything should do it, that should.But what happened?Soon after the prayers, the phone rings ,and looking at the cell phone screen , guess who?Yup!!{Eventually I blocked her number,and that did the trick.}If everything goes by our "thoughts"and "state of mind", explain why I've had times when I saw no way out of a bad situation, and was very "negative" about my chances,yet, by some quirk of circumstances, some miraculous change of events happened and I was deliveredAnd the other extreme, I've had where I "thought" that everything was well in hand,and some freakish thing happened that screwed me, WITH my positive thoughts. So explain when things sometimes go opposite of your "thoughts."In the end, God is God, not our "thoughts."

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