Subscription Lists

Often in the task of living in today’s world, many struggle with what they feel is unanswered prayer - prayer for themselves, for others, for activities, etc., that may be desperately important. We all want the answer to unanswered prayer. At times - sometimes - it has helped some to recall the refrain of a melody that affirms that “one of God’s greatest gifts is unanswered prayer”. But for others, the “sound of silence” seems the only response from God that can be heard, and it seems impossible to see it as a gift from God - at least at first. As has been said, there really is no such thing as unanswered prayer. Technically, God always answers. He answers with No, Yes, or Not Now. But the silence in any case, seems deafening.

There can be as many reasons that God does not seem to answer prayer as there are people who have prayed. Its a question so open-ended, the prayer requests so varied, and a God prayed to so infinite in love, knowledge and wisdom, that it approaches the impossible to even begin to offer an answer. People and circumstances, the quality of relationships with Jesus Christ, are also almost infinite. God has in the past answered with silence. One of the most intriguing instances of this is Jesus’ lack of response to Pilate during his questioning, especially His silence to Pilate’s question, “what is truth” (John 18:37-38). Silence was His answer. Inexplicably, it seemed to satisfy Pilate. It is doubtful that it would have satisfied many of us.

But in this encounter between Jesus and Pilate is a key to the problems of unanswered prayers - a permanent solution. A solution that is always sufficient - sufficient to live by.

The answer begins in the book of Deuteronomy: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart.” (Deuteronomy 6:5-6). This was Jesus’ answer to the Jews when asked which commandment in the Law was the greatest. Interestingly, Jesus added a second one that He said is “like it” (Matthew 22:37-39). They are one (John 4:20). Through prayer, for ourselves and others, we are actually contracting to be made one with God and with those for whom we are praying by which they are becoming one also. This is the meaning of atonement (“At-One-Ment”) in Christ. No matter what the issue is in prayer, whether for a sickness, an emergency, the salvation of another, a physical need, a spiritual need - the ultimate issue is that of becoming one with Jesus Christ, for ourselves and others.

This is what was intended to be pictured originally in the marriage of a man and a woman before the fall. Have you noticed that the longer a couple live together the more they think alike? If it is a good marriage, sometimes just being close is enough. A great amount of conversation isn’t needed. They just know...they just know the love is there, the mutual submission is there - the will of one is OK with the other. They mutually out-give each other. Perhaps there are not many that fit this ideal. But for the ones that do, there is a beautiful reflection of the way God is, and with us if we are in Him! The same is true with friendships, and fellowships, and relationships. If there is a one-ness and yet more than one, it can be the type of where Jesus Christ is taking us though His dealings with us in our prayers. The rule to live by regarding our prayers is the same rule that must govern all of our life - even if there is only the sound of silence.

In the garden, when Jesus was praying, before the solders came to take Him, he ask His Father to spare Him that which He was about to experience. As far as we have record, the Father was silent...it was an answer by no answer. In the midst of this unspeakable “sound of silence” Jesus’ prayed. Remember what He prayed. It is the ultimate answer that we must affirm with every prayer and request we make to our God and Savior:

“And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done. And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.” (Luke 22:41-43)

The answer came. The answer was strength for the night and the morrow (2 Corinthians 2:8-10). It was not the one He desired. Perhaps this experience of Jesus was in His mind in His response to a prayer request by the Apostle Paul years later after the resurrection (2 Corinthians 12:9). We are to make our requests known to God in prayer (Philippians 4:6), but always with the deep submission expressed by Jesus:

“Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done”

Not only is this the answer to unanswered prayer - it must be the rule of our life. God's will becomes our will - and our will His will. When we become one with this, as with Paul we will find great peace - all our prayers are answered.

“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he hears us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” - 1 John 5:14-15

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

Milque-Toast Prayers