What happens to your unanswered prayers?

Have you ever had unanswered prayers? How did you feel about it? I know hundreds of people who have been confused by prayers that seem to be unanswered.

As a new Christian, I had incredible faith in God. He had done so much in my life in just a few years that I had crazy faith. My prayers were radical. I’ll never forget the day my faith was tested. While I was driving my fiancée and members of her family to our destination, we ran out of gas. The whole group waited for a miracle as I asked God to supernaturally fill my tank. We waited and waited as I tried to start the car several times but to no avail. I was forced to face this incredible dilemma: what do you say when your prayers are not answered as you hoped they would be?

Even though God did not fill my gas tank as I had asked, a roadside service rescued us with a few gallons of free gas. Did God answer my prayer in a different way? Was it still a miracle?

I’m sharing this simple story because it’s become a foundation for helping me understand God and the role of prayer. Here are two good Scriptures about prayer: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5:16, NKJV) and “‘Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.’” (Matthew 18:19, NKJV)

I’d like to offer you a few ways to interpret this dilemma of unanswered prayers:

1. Are you asking for the wrong thing?
2. Is God answering your prayer in another way?
3. Do you need to find prayer support from someone else?
4. Is the answer “No”?
5. Is your prayer being delayed by an unseen force?

I believe God always answers our prayers, but sometimes we have a hard time interpreting His answers. Don’t give up on prayer because that’s how you become a miracle.

Your friend, Paul Marc Goulet