On Unanswered Prayers
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles Tags: Bible Lessons on PrayerAn explanation we often hear for unanswered prayers is that the person praying did not have enough faith. But Jesus said in Luke 17:6 that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed, we can command a mulberry tree to be uprooted and planted in the sea and it will obey us. In other words, the effectiveness of our prayers doesn’t depend on “how much” faith we have, but on whether or not we even have any faith at all.
Luke tells of a Roman centurion who had “great faith” (Luke 7:9). His faith was expressed first as an appeal to Jesus to heal his dying servant (Luke 7:1-3). Then it was expressed as an acknowledgment that Jesus could heal his servant anytime, any place without Him even being there — just “say the word” (Luke 7:7).
Faith has been described as putting our complete trust in the Lord and His power (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 28:18).
The Answer to the Problem of Unanswered Prayers
Some seemingly unanswered prayers, are simply instances in which God has lovingly overruled our wishes. He knows that what we have asked for is not best. Or it may be that our timing is not His timing, or He may have some far greater purpose in mind (Romans 8:28).
Let us remember that even Jesus prayed to His heavenly Father, “Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
Do we have the centurion’s great faith — a faith that trusts the Lord to do His work, by His authority? (Matthew 7:28-29).
Let’s think about it!