Believers, do you agree with this statement?

Question

"ALL prayers are answered, even when the answer is silence."

-taken from an answer to my last question asking for examples of when prayer works.

How can silence be an answer? Do you consider silence an answer when you ask a human being for something?

Answer 1

In a way, yes. There have been times in my own life that it has taken months before I received a clear answer to prayer. In those months, the silent answer was simply the answer of, "Not time yet."

Easier to see in retrospect.

EDIT: Zifikos' good answer made me think to make the point that God is not a genie in a bottle that grants wishes, and prayer is not simply our way of asking for favors to be granted. If that's all we take it as, then I would expect a lot of silence.

Answer 2

LOL! I have to laugh because I was wondering the same thing... BUT I do think all prayers are answered in one way or another...sometimes we don't hear or listen to the answer though- especially if we don't like the path we are being led down or the answer that is staring us in the face... and sometimes, it takes time to "see" the answers that were there... we are sometimes too involved to see the forest for the trees....

An example - a friend of mine has some serious issues with depression and drinking... she was crying the other day about how she wanted to stop drinking but just couldn't... yet everytime she drinks, she gets suicidal... you could ignore it and say God doesn't answer prayers or that his answer is silence... I see it as a sign that God/Universe/Spirit is showing her WHY she should stop.

God/Universe/Spirit will Guide us, if we listen but it is still up to us to take the steps toward what we pray for.

Answer 3

Some times when I used to ask my dad something, he would answer with silence - and just give me the look that told me just exactly what he thought. It was an answer in a way.
I think silence can be an answer.
Things happen when we pray, no doubt about that. Perhaps you could say that silence is sometimes God's way of saying "wait" or "no" ?

Answer 4

I'd have to say I do agree with it. I don't see God(s) like parents who tune you out. They listen (every time), they care, they want the best for you, and they make the ultimate decision every time. So yes, silence is an appropriate answer to a prayer.

When you ask a human for something and you get silence...they may have just chosen to ignore you. And usually, if they did hear the question, silence is just a passive aggressive cop-out, not an answer. I don't think it's the same with the Gods. Humans have their own agendas, irritations, hang-ups, etc. which can make them just ignore your question. I just don't see God(s) doing the same thing.

Answer 5

I think the answer is within the bible. I believe that the words of "be silent and know that I am God" applies. I also think that this silence from God should be a consideration for us as praisers to go back and rethink our request. Either that or listen, really listen to the answer. Sometimes we hear and already know the answer before we ask. Our mind screams the silence in defiance of God's reply.

EDIT: I want to thank all of the people that gave me a thumbs down for stating my opinion. Just remember, it doesn't invalidate it. My answer stands and is just as right as anyone else's.

Answer 6

Let me paint a picture.

If God answered every one of our prayers EXACTLY how we wanted it done, what kind of world would we be living in?! Sometimes the answer should be no, or wait. I think any reasonable person could see why. We human beings are limited in scope and desire. We cannot understand the necessity of why things happen, we often because of our own selfish desires, simply do not want them to happen (like suffering). God see's past, present and future and its all going somewhere for Him, in other words in has a purpose and a plan to work for the greater good.

I think the fundamental purpose of prayer is to change US, not the world and certainly not God (whom is unchangeable).

Answer 7

yes silence is a form of a answer. if a human did not answer and you know they heard you....then their answer is apparently...no. Prayer DOES work...but only in faith and through God...if the prayer is not of God or not scriptural...not in His promises...then maybe it will not get answered the way you want it. The Bible says that God is not a respector of persons. What He makes happen for one man...He will make happen for another. He loves us all. The Bible also says...Seek ye first...the kingdom of God. Listen honey...I prayed for a child for 10 years....I could not get pregnant. Doctors had cut out part of my reproductive organs and told me that if I was to ever have a child...that it would just be luck! I told them...I do not believe in luck! I believe In God. I would cry myself to sleep all the time at night because I wanted a baby so bad. Then I remember...the last time I prayed my prayer of 10 years...i changed it a little. I said,"God...I know that you can do this. I have faith that you will...but...if by chance that you have another plan for my life...I trust you and accept it. " That was the last time I prayed that prayer. 1 month later...I was pregnant. Now I have a beautiful little girl who is in school now.
We cannot explain why God works the way He does...sometimes He puts us to the test. He is a jealous God. He loves you and me and He does not want you to put anything else above Him. So...when you pray...put God first. He knows what is in your heart. If He did it for someone in scripture...He will do it for you. Make sure that when you pray...remind Him of what he did for someone in the book. Don't worry...worry is the opposite of faith. You cannot please God without faith. Seek Him....let Him be all that you want...that if you never got anything else....that you want Him more than the breath in your body...THAT IS WHAT MAKES GOD MOVES. God bless!

Answer 8

If the answer is silence, it means the thing you prayed was not good for you and God accepted your prayer but accepting doesn't mean making all of them come true.You pray and ask for something and He answers you by giving that thing if it's good for you and not giving (that silence) if it's not a good thing for you.

Answer 9

All prayers are answered one way or another sooner or later, the key here is to have patience. God will answer you when you least expect it. You can't just sit there and wait for an answer to come when you want it to. Trust God to answer you and you'll see the answers you seek right before you. Good Luck!

Answer 10

The liberal application of 'answers' to prayers kills me.

If I were to pray to a potato, I would receive, one of three answers to everything I asked. 1. Yes, 2. NO and 3. Wait.

The same applies to God. If I win the lotto tomorrow, the answer was Yes, if I don't it was No, and if I bought several tickets for weeks in advance, it is Wait.

The biggest difference is that Potatoes make great french fries, can be nourishing and don't typically cause humans to kill one another. (unless you are Irish)