The Problem of Unanswered Prayer

Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains

Why I Rejected Christianity: A Former Apologist Explains by John Loftus

Many biblical promises of answered prayer seem unqualified (Matt. 7:7; John 14:13; 15:16; and 16:23): pray and it shall be given unto you.

And yet our own experiences with prayer tell another story. I am sure that as believers or former believers we could each form a list of unanswered prayers. I am sure we are better off because some of our prayers weren’t answered. As John Loftus says it would be a recipe for disaster if for God to simply give us whatever we asked for. But then why does the Bible state ask and it shall be given with no qualifiers? And why doesn’t God answer the prayers that are worthwhile - for a loved one to be saved (my dad is still an atheist after many, many years of heartfelt prayers - now I don’t care, but I sure did when I was praying); for healing and escape from death for those who died too young like Melinda, Mary and Sandy.

God didn’t even answer his own son (who said whatsoever you ask…) when he prayed to avoid the cross.

From the book - Inadequate solutions to the question of unanswered prayer


1. Some Christians deny that prayer ever goes unanswered if prayed in faith…This view leads to intense guilt if prayers go unanswered, and forces some to paradoxically claim that God healed them even when the symptoms remain!

2. Others believe that God answers prayer, but that sometimes his answer is “No.” But think about it; how is it possible that a negative answer is not considered unanswered prayer? …

3. Still others rationalize things away so that they can still say God answered their prayer even though God didn’t do as they requested. One church prayed for a cancer patient who died. The minister subsequently claimed God had answered their prayer because he said they were praying for her release from the hospital.

Here are some of the reasons God that are scattered throughout the Bible as to why God doesn’t answer prayer:

  • sin in our lives
  • wrong motives in our prayer
  • lack of faith in prayer
  • not according to God’s will
  • it’s not within God’s power
  • his curse on us after “the fall”
  • free will

I guess my question is why say you will answer prayer if we will just ask and then make all of these exceptions. As a parent I would never do that to my child. Go ahead, ask for whatever you want and I will give it to you, IF you are a good boy, asking for something I think you should have, and you believe you will get it and I want you to have it and if I can actually do it and, and, and… Why say it if you have no intention of really doing it?



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One Response to “The Problem of Unanswered Prayer”

  1. John Says:
    October 28th, 2006 at 10:04 am

    Interesting perspective by Gerald Sittser

    “Strange as it may sound, we need unanswered prayer. It is God’s gift to us because it protects us from ourselves. If all our prayers were answered, we would only abuse the power. We would use prayer to change the world to our liking, and it would become hell on earth. Like spoiled children with too many toys and too much money, we would only grab for more. We would pray for victory at the expense of others; we would be intoxicated by power. We would hurt other people and exalt ourselves.
    Unanswered prayer protects us. It breaks us, deepens us, and transforms us. Ironically, the unanswered prayers of the past, which so often leave us feeling hurt and disillusioned, serve as a refiner’s fire that prepares us for the answered prayers of the future.”

    “Blessed are those who have not seen yet still believe.”

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