This is a question that I am sure you have asked yourself. Maybe you are asking it right now… It is a question that I’ve been asking recently regarding a prayer request for an additional staff position at our church, something that our church has also been praying about, but for some reason that door has not yet been opened. There are several reason why this door may be closed and here are a few of the Biblical reasons why this request may not be answered at this time.
My first response to these apparent closed doors is God answers our prayers with a: “Yes” “No” or “Wait”. We love the “Yes” responses! But technically “No” or “Wait” are also good answers. They are just not the answers that we want to hear. Many times God responds with a “No” or a “Wait” because we are asking for the wrong thing or at the wrong time. It could be that we are asking God to get us out of a tough time that we actually need to experience to grow. Or, we could be praying for something that is not according to His will. It could also simply be that our timing is wrong.
When our answers are delayed it is helpful to see our God as our Heavenly Father and not a Genie who offers unlimited wishes. Our church prayer obviously falls into this category. He also uses unanswered prayer to build our trust in Him. My response as an earthly father to my kids and to others: it never hurts to ask! Just remember that the answer can be “Yes”, “No “or “Not now”. We know that He always answers yes, when our prayers are according to His will. Our prayer also releases God’s peace in our situation even when it does not make sense to us. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6–7).
There are other reasons why the Lord responds with a “No” or “Wait”. We need to remind ourselves that when God does not open a door that our All-loving and All-Knowing Heavenly Father always does what is best for us. But I was reminded of another reason why our request may be delayed. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7–8). I was recently reminded that prayer requires us not only to pray but to step out in faith. It seems to me that many times when a prayer is not getting answered, it is because I am asking, but not doing the leg work to seek or knock. I realize that Jesus’ use of these metaphors do not apply to just making the request. There is another side in which we need to take the initiative. I have seen more No/Wait prayers become a Yes when I did the leg work.
I was recently talking with a young man who wanted to get a job. I challenged him to pray about it, but to also put out a few job applications. I can personally give you examples of God answering my prayers when I took the steps to seek restoration in a broken relationship, or helped with a project that needed to done, or even something as simple as making phone calls to find a vendor to help with a needed solution.
Our church has been using our own facility for ministry since Easter Sunday 2021. What a blessing! Our first 19 years of ministry we set up for services each Sunday in a local school. We have lived the gamut of what I have shared above. The result of over 20 years of prayer was the result of God’s timing and our asking, seeking and knocking each step of the way. My title for this article should be “God is Answering Your Prayer, You Just Don’t Know It!”
-Pastor Joe Parkinson