How to Pray When God Seems Not to Hear?

Have you been praying faithfully, yet the help or answer you are waiting for still has not come? I have, and I even nearly lost hope because some of my prayers remained unanswered. I felt that God was not listening to my requests, and it made me not want to pray anymore. 

Perhaps some of us are going through this right now. We cry out to God, “Why?” or “Help!” and expect an answer, but all we receive is silence. So, how should we respond when it seems that God does not hear our prayers?

3 Ways to Pray While Waiting

If you feel that your prayers are answered only with silence, do not worry. A number of biblical figures experienced the same thing. Though it was difficult, they managed to hold on to their faith. The life examples of the following biblical figures can be practiced when we feel that God does not hear our requests:

1.Pray with Confidence: Everything for God's Glory 

John chapter 11 tells how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Mary and Martha sent word to Jesus that their brother Lazarus was sick. Unexpectedly, Jesus did not hurry to come but deliberately waited two more days. By the time He arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already died. 

Martha and Mary said to Him that if He had arrived earlier, their brother would not have died (because they believed Jesus had the power to heal). Yet after that Martha added, “But even now I know that God will give You whatever You ask of Him.” (John 11:22).

Martha and Mary were able to accept reality and still believe that God was sovereign over their lives. And the reward for their full trust was a closer relationship with God. They also learned about another form of God's power (John 11:14-15). If before this they had believed that Jesus was able to heal every kind of disease, now they saw His power to raise the dead. God was glorified not through Lazarus's healing, but through his resurrection from death (John 11:4).

This silence in unanswered prayer was what Mary and Martha felt as they waited for Jesus, who did not come right away. When God seems only silent, it is not impossible for us to then feel ignored, thinking that God does not care and does not want to help. Yet, just as Mary and Martha experienced, could it be that in that silence we are actually becoming closer to Him? 

In the church, many of our brothers and sisters remain enthusiastic in serving God and helping others grow spiritually. However, that does not mean they stay encouraged because their lives are free from struggle. Some are still praying for a life partner, a job, or better financial circumstances. Yet, delayed answers to prayer are not an obstacle to glorifying God through the example of their lives.

So, during your season of waiting, keep praying with full trust that a delayed prayer will be answered for God's glory.

2. Pray with Humility

On the journey from Gennesaret to Tyre and Sidon, a Canaanite woman came to Jesus and His disciples (Matthew 15:21-28). She pleaded for Jesus' mercy to heal her daughter who was possessed by a demon. But Jesus did not respond to her at all. 

Because the woman kept following Him and shouting, Jesus explained that He was sent only to minister to Israel, while His time for the other nations had not yet come. The woman answered with great humility: she was indeed unworthy to receive the portion given first, but it was enough for her to receive the Lord's mercy from what was set aside. Seeing her faith, Jesus was moved to bring healing to her daughter.

Praying while seeing ourselves as the most deserving will make us unhappy. When we see others happy, we instead feel sad. When others receive the job position we dream of, or are blessed with the spouse we long for, we become disappointed, even bitter. We feel that we are the ones who deserve what others have received. We sulk, “Isn't that what I have been praying for all this time?” 

When we come in pride and God does not answer, we will become annoyed, disappointed, and angry. On the other hand, praying with humility will keep us from focusing on what God has not yet given, and instead encourage us to keep giving thanks.

How have you been coming and asking before God all this time? Do you feel you are the most deserving of His blessing, more than others? Learn to come before His presence with humility. If God does not answer, keep humbling ourselves, worship Him, and bring our prayers before Him even more earnestly.

3.Pray Persistently

Jesus once told a parable so that His disciples would pray and not give up (Luke 18:1-8). There was a widow who persistently pleaded with a judge to defend her case. Time and again the widow was refused. Yet because he was tired of being bothered continually, the judge finally decided to help the widow against her opponent.

How many times do we bring our matters before God in prayer? Do we easily grow tired and lose faith? Just because God seems not to hear, let us not doubt Him and stop praying. Instead, let that situation drive us to seek God more diligently and draw nearer to Him.

Throughout my process of helping someone, from first coming to know God's truth until deciding to live rightly, I kept praying to God. Perhaps right now you do not yet know God or feel that God is far away. But if after reading this article you take action to know God's truth, I believe that is the result of the persistent prayers of people who love you. 

If even an unrighteous judge who does not fear God was willing to grant the request of that persistent widow, how much more our God, who is perfectly just; surely He will pay attention to His chosen ones who pray without growing weary.

When you feel that God does not hear your prayers, do not lose heart. Believe that He has a plan to draw you closer to Him. Glorify God through delayed answers to prayer, do so with humility, and remain steadfast in prayer. May your prayer life become ever more beautiful and fruitful in Him!

-

Church GKDI is currently present in 35 cities. We have Bible Study activities in every area; if you need information or would like to get involved, contact us at Church GKDI Official:
WhatsApp 0821 2285 8686 or Facebook / Instagram GKDI Official

Related articles: Three Ways to Begin the New Year with Joy

Inspirational video: