When Are Prayers Answered?

So we fasted and entreated our God for this, and He answered our prayer. Ezra 8:23 (NKJV)

I have literally seen God answer my prayers within just a few minutes of asking for something. He is quite astounding. There have been other times when the problem with getting my prayers answered was that I just did not know to ask specifically, or was unsure precisely how I wanted things to work out for the best. Yet at other times the Lord has seemed to completely ignore my requests, my prayers appeared to “fall on deaf ears”.

The truth is that God hears our prayers. But often He has His own timing and reasons as to how or why He does and doesn’t answer us. His answer to our prayers could be “no”, or “not yet”. Perhaps we are asking for the wrong thing, or it is the wrong time, or He has something much better in mind. It could be that He is teaching us trust Him and have patience through our long wait for answered prayer.

There have also been times when I simply did not want to accept the answer the Lord had for my prayer. Perhaps the thing that needed to happen was a change in me, not in circumstances or moving God’s will in my direction.

Prayer is a powerful thing. It can literally move mountains. We serve an awesome God with unlimited power and One who owns the earth and everything in it.

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1 (NKJV)

I have seen God knock down doors, remove obstacles, and make a way where there appeared to be no way. I have looked in the mirror at a dying man, and just months later seen that same man restored to life thanks to answered prayer. Both miracles large and small have come my way in over fifty years on this earth. God’s goodness has come my way and more prayers answered than I can begin to count. Perhaps that is your testimony as well.

Call upon the Lord in prayer. Sometimes He answers quickly, but if He does not, do not lose heart, be patient for His timing and His will.

Prayer: Dear Lord so many times You have quickly answered prayer, and come to our rescue. Help us to be patient during those times that our prayers are not quickly answered. You know the “how and when” regarding the best way to answer our prayers. Amen.

Karlton Douglas

Copyright 2016