What to Do When it Feels Like God Isn’t Hearing You

Why doesn't God answer prayer?

For starters, He does. I can attest to that. But sometimes He doesn’t answer the way we want (or He doesn’t even answer at all). Why is that?

What Is Prayer?

First, we have to understand what prayer is (I viewed it incorrectly for a long time). Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Its purpose is largely to help align our hearts with what God is doing as He invites us to play a role in His work.

Questions about why God doesn't answer a prayer typically arise about times when we ask God to do something. And for some people, that is all prayer is: a room service concierge line, or perhaps a 911 call. It's all requests, all the time. To me, that doesn't sound much like a conversation.

I'm certainly not saying you should never request anything from God, but that is not the only thing prayer is about. Instead of a concierge call, I’ve heard prayer described more like a walkie-talkie on a battlefield. We constantly radio in about the situation and ask God what He would have us do in a wartime scenario: charge over there, bind someone's wounds over here, or wait over in this area. Our Commander-in-Chief is up to something, and we get to take part—but we're not giving the orders.

Can You Hear Me Now?

All that said, there actually are places in the Bible where it talks about God not hearing people's prayers. Not that He can't hear, but that He doesn't listen. As it says in Isaiah 59:1-2

“Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.”

The chapter goes on from there to describe the people in ever-less-flattering terms. Basically, if you are committed to living in unrepentant sin, you are not really concerned with God's plans and shouldn't expect Him to include you in His work. You won't hear from Him, because there is too much static on the line.

The Bible includes other examples of when God will not hear your prayers:

When you are focused on the appearances of religion, rather than caring for others (Isaiah 58:1-12)
For married folks, if you are not considerate of your spouse, which is God's will for marriage (1 Peter 3:7)
If you do not trust God (James 1:6)
If you ask for something with selfish motives, and without regard for what God wants (James 4:3)
Related to the above, if you ask for something that is not in accordance with God's will (1 John 5:14)

I always thought that was a cop-out Christian answer to why doesn't God hear my prayers. Now, I realize that prayer is as much about understanding His will as expressing ours. Jesus provides a good example for us (of course). Facing knowledge of His own impending crucifixion, He went at night to a garden and prayed:

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” – Luke 22:42

Now, if God was going to answer the prayer of anyone, it would be Jesus, right? I mean, it's His only Son we're talking about (and the only Person who never did anything wrong). So did God answer that prayer?

Yes and no. God did not take away that “cup” of crucifixion, so it might seem like an unanswered prayer. But Jesus also prayed that God's will be done, and it was. God's will was to use the crucifixion to save all of us from the penalty of sin. Through Jesus' death, we get eternal life. That's a really good plan long-term, but I'd have a hard time seeing that in the moment…

God is up to something, and someday we will see the “why” behind what seemed like an unanswered prayer.

Oh, and there is one other reason why God would not hear our prayers, and it is probably the most common reason of all: because we don't pray.

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Jonathan Pokluda Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, TX. He was formerly the leader of The Porch in Dallas, TX, which grew to be the largest weekly young adult gathering of its kind in the country. JP didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties after being involved in different denominational churches his entire life. This ignited a desire in him to inspire young adults to radically follow Jesus Christ and unleash them to change the world. JP's partner in ministry is Monica, his wife of seventeen years, and together they disciple their children Presley, Finley, and Weston.
He has written 5 best-selling books, and is currently working on “Your Story Has a Villain.” This book is for you if you’re weary from the struggle and ready to embrace the abundant life God has for us. It will help you explore the tactics of Satan, equip you to overcome spiritual battles, and remind you of the victory already secured through Jesus. Learn more at his website, jonathanpokluda.com. Click here for Unite Us, a movement of college students united to lift the name of Jesus.