How have you come to terms with the fact that God doesn't answer prayers?

Question

One case of many in the world -What possible reason would he not answer prayers by many people including the righteous and people of great faith (even the pope) to help bring back Madeleine Mccann, the little missing girl.
You may say it is because the people who took her had free will. Does this mean that God can never intervene then and prayer is pointless.
It claims in the bible that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective - the pope is on the case. It claims that you don't get what you want when you pray because you want to spend it on your own selfish desires - this is not the case here. It claims if you have faith as small as a mustard seed you can say to this mountain move and it will move - people of great faith are praying and nothing happens.

I bet someone will come up with the reason "you shall not put the lord your God to the test" as a cop out - well i may be doing that but others are not

Allen B - you say God cannot overstep the "free will" guidelines - then of what point is prayer as the majority of prayers are to do with influencing the free will of another

Good story Mercy

Answer 1

He has not answered every prayer, but I am probably better off that He hasn't. However He has answered so many of my prayers that I don't mind the few that He did not answer the way that I wanted then answered.

When you ask God to do something, you have to be willing to accept whatever answer He gives you. Over the years He has answered thousands of prayers that I have raised up to Him.

And what is really funny, I always ask that it be done according to His will and not my will. Yet it is still done.

Have you prayed for a sick person and had them get well?
Have you prayed for a job and got one?
Have you prayed for the perfect mate and got what you asked for?
Have you prayed for wisdom in something and received that.
Have you prayed for His blessing on your finances and got that as well.
Have you prayed for His words to fill your mouth and received it.

The things happen all too often for me, and it is undeniable that it has come from Him.

I do not pray for things like the end of the war in Iraq, or for Him to send our troops home now. That may not be in His will. If you understand the history of what is going on there, you will understand that what is happening today could well be within His will. That is a whole different subject however.

grace2u

Answer 2

It is so agonizing when these things happen. The news nowadays brings tears to my eyes more than ever before.

I am convinced that God is just as anguished as are we when we are confronted with the wickedness that now occurs on such a grand scale. Having free will does not mean that God can never intervene. He intervenes on a regular basis in individual lives. And although it may not seem so, God does answer prayers.

But to understand why God does not seem to be intervening in the case of this little girl, we must understand why He is allowing wickedness in the first place - all wickedness. It touches our heart when children are involved but really, any wickedness perpetrated against humans - babies, children, the elderly, women - is painful and breaks the heart.

God fully intends to intervene on an earth-wide scale, delivering all from calamity and wickedness. There are compelling reasons why he is (for the moment) tolerating this situation. Indeed, there will come a day when we will actually look and not even be able to find one bad person. Psalm 37: 10, 11.

In the meantime, it will help us to understand the "why" instead of being moved to demand the "why not." You asked what possible reason could there be . . . I do assure you, there is a good reason. But the time and space constraints of this format make it very difficult to answer scripturally without doing so in several paragraphs.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

How many more times ? The Pope of the Catholic Church HAS NO SPIRITUAL POWER vested in him by the Holy Spirit. NONE . NONE AT ALL !! And those without faith cannot expect to be answers to prayers suddenly made up just for convenience. The world is awash with evil people and dark demonic forces. VERY powerful ones and MANY of them. And the child you mention has fallen prey to some of that evil. It is not correct to view God as some sort of magician. We must ALL put our FAITH in God through Jesus Christ. And millions have failed to do so and are failing every day. This is not "our world " to treat as we wish and to make our own rules. As for The Pope, well you will not see divine intervention through him. The Catholic Church have corrupted the teachings of Jesus and formed a " power " organisition full of hypocrisy, wealth and corruptions. What the world's people need now is FAITH in God through Jesus Christ and full repentance for sins, otherwise the pathway to salvation is CLOSED. Get it into your head ! You cannot "click your fingers" to God's power.

Answer 4

God does answer prayers according to the promises in the Bible, but God gave man dominion over the earth:
(Gen 1:26 KJV) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
The final say on what happens still lies in the hands of man. If man chooses to have mercy in cases like this then the child would live, but God will not overstep those guidelines until the day when He will Judge every single person, then true righteousness will prevail.

Answer 5

Now, I find that strange, that you should ask that. I've never had to "come to terms", as you put it, since God always answers my prayers.
I'm sorry about the little girl. This is the first I've heard of it...and you don't give much detail in your question.
What makes you think the pope's prayers have any more influence on God than your own, or anyone else's?
If you are looking to the pope to "fix" some problem, or to any other man, you are looking in the wrong direction.
Maybe God is waiting to hear one particular voice raised in earnest prayer, trusting Him to answer.
Maybe He is waiting for you...

Answer 6

The bible does say that the prayer of a righteous man availeth much, but it does not say that it changes God's will. He took all in account before the foundation of the world. We may not understand all but the bible tells us that all things work together for good to those that love God. Our God is faithful to bring us comfort and strength in times of trials.

Answer 7

god answers prayers but also god has a way for each human..maybe he is not answering that maddie prayer because she is better off in heaven and her parents suffering will make them diffrent better people...god knows whats best and what the future holds if it was best for the parents of the girl to just get her back maybe that would have happened but wheres the lesson learned or where is the point...prayers are answered in gods way with enough faith you find that gods way is best and the truth....

Answer 8

Hi, for a long long time I prayed for healing as I have had bipolar disorder (manic depression) and for 8 years life was literal hell - I didn't understand it and was suicidal day in day out. Despite having been a strong Christian before I was ill and part way through, I had major times where I just didn't want to know. God has never healed me fully, and I have had to come to terms with the fact that he may never - however, I had to learn to cope with my illness and now enjoy life (despite the ups and downs) - however, the point is is that because of that suffering I had and still go through - I can now help others in similar situations. Whilst I wish it wasn't there, I have had to learn to live with it - for me I found God saying "My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness" and now I can comfort others with the comfort I received from God.

Answer 9

WOW ... you're somewhat worldly. it is beneficial to heed to whispers on your ear .. solid or evil? .. " He" is coming back for you? ... it is rather open .. He ought to be an angel whispering God is coming back for you .. He may be a demon whispering Lucifer is coming to get you ,,, i does not be so particular that the whisper you heard is a bypass forward for the existence you're describing above. God isn't a want granter .. desires and Prayers are to no longer be seen on a similar point. Prayer is direct communique to God. desires in maximum situations are worldly based. i stumble on humor in the tip you have come to for looking the suitable guy slave to beckon to you while needed. God does answer prayers. although in my own opinion. finding out directly to need " a pair of situations " in hopes of having your existence in the international replaced to three generic which you prefer to be extra wholesome is so disgustingly egocentric I honestly experience undesirable for you. rather of charging super sums of money for centers which will bypass away you empty .. Why do no longer you're taking what you have found out and make a difference in this international. even perchance for loose ... OHHHH the HORROR! Your final sentence ... you already comprehend the respond to. rather i will pray for you ( to no longer strike it rich and meet a guy slave) yet, for you in looking your self and the guy God meant you to be... solid success.

Answer 10

He doesn't.....He does for me....but not always in the way i expect.....He is God after all and He always does what is best for me....I have learned that from experience....not mystical experience....but simple everyday life experiences...
The more i read the Bible and Pray the more i can understand the mind of God...altho idon't think i'll ever be able to fully comprehend His divine Mind....apart from the Bible...there are 3 other books that have largely helped me to understand this
The case for christ
The Case for Faith
The Case for a Creator
....author...Lee Strobel...