So, Why Doesn't God Answer Everyone's Prayers?

It may be because they don't have a relationship with

God. They may know that God exists, and they might even

worship God from time to time. But those who never seem

to have their prayers answered probably don't have a

relationship with him. Further, they have never

received from God complete forgiveness for their sin.

What does that have to do with it you ask? Here is an

explanation. "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."3

It's pretty natural to feel that separation from God.

When people begin to ask God for something, what

usually takes place? They begin with, "God, I really

need your help with this problem..." And then there's a

pause, followed by a restart... "I realize that I'm not

a perfect person, that I actually have no right to ask

you for this..." There's an awareness of personal sin

and failure. And the person knows that it's not just

them; that God is aware of it too. There's a feeling

of, "Who am I kidding?" What they may not know is how

they can receive God's forgiveness for all their sin.

They might not know that they can come into a

relationship with God so that God will hear them. This

is the foundation for God answering your prayer.