The Reasons for Unanswered Prayer 

“For all the promises of God in Him are yes, and in Him amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).  

God doesn’t say “yes” sometimes, “no” other times or “wait a while” other times. All the promises of God are yes and amen! If God promised it, you can be sure of it. Then why does it seem some prayers go unanswered? There are scriptural reasons why some prayers go unanswered or are hindered. 

First, if you are praying for something that violates His Word, God does not hear or answer that prayer. Unscriptural prayers happen when there is no scriptural foundation for what you are praying. God is only obligated to fulfill what He said in His Word or what He spoke to you that is in line with His Word. 

Examples of Prayers that Violate His Word:

• Praying for God to give you your soul mate (someone besides your mate), while you are married.
• Praying for God to bless a business deal that you had to compromise and lie to attain, and then trying to justify your actions by committing to give Him the tithe off the unscrupulous deal.
• Praying for God to provide for your needs while you are unwilling to work, (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

God’s Word is His will. If we ask anything according to His Word, He hears us. And if we know He hears us, we know we have the answer to what we prayed:

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 John 5:14-15).

The key to praying effective prayers is spending time with the Lord getting to know His Word. The more of His Word you know, the more powerful and fruitful prayer life you will have! In John 15:7, Jesus reminds us:

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

I encourage you to find a Scripture that becomes the foundation of your prayer before you pray. My book, Scriptures to Live By has a number of categories of scripture that can help you base your prayers on the Word. 

Secondly, if your prayers are flesh led and covetous prayers, God will not answer those prayers. James 4:2 says:

“You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.”

You cannot receive from God through the means of lust, murder (hate), and covetousness. If you would simply place your trust in the Lord for the things you need and desire, and ask your Father for them, you would receive. Coveting and lusting is the opposite of trusting in God – it is simply trusting in your flesh or someone else to provide for your needs and wants.  

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures” (James 4:3).

Don’t ask for things your flesh is crying out for without taking the time to wait on God and seek Him to determine if it is His will or not. Don’t ask God for His blessing and provision to move to another city, start a business, or launch a project without seeking Him first. 

Some people go so far attempting to carry out their selfish agenda they yield to “witchcraft prayers” by attempting to control others they are fearful of who may spoil their agenda. They may even execute manipulative schemes born out of a lack of trust in God.  God does not hear, answer, or respond to these type of prayers. 

A third hindrance to prayer is strife and gossip. Peter reveals that it is possible for your prayers to be hindered: 

“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered,” (1 Peter 3:7).  

Strife will hinder the prayers of a married couple. When you are unwilling to get along or yield to the desires and will of one another, or if you are constantly pushing your own agenda rather than listening and yielding to your mate’s, it will hinder your prayers. It’s more important to be in unity than to be right. 

“Only by pride comes contention [strife]…” (Proverbs 13:10).

“[…] God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

Pride and strife will restrict a fruitful prayer life. This is true for the married couples and singles. The way to avoid pride and strife and a hindered prayer life is by determining to make unity your goal rather than proving you are right. Have compassion and love for one another: seek to understand more than to be understood. 1 Peter 3:9 has the remedy for strife: Don’t return evil for evil; rather, return blessing for evil that you may inherit a blessing (have your prayers answered). As a church, anytime we experienced a prolonged financial downturn, we took time to make sure there was no strife among our leaders. On at least two occasions, we found that this was the cause. Praise God for His Word! We were able to quickly repent and come into unity.

The fourth reason your prayers may be hindered is due to unforgiveness in your life. 

“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25).  

Unforgiveness can hinder us from receiving the full benefit of what Jesus bought and paid for – including receiving and experiencing the peace and joy that comes from His forgiveness.  

“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (II Corinthians 2:10-11).  

Unforgiveness gives the enemy an advantage over us and will hinder our prayers. Whatever someone has done to you – let it go! It is not greater than what Jesus has done for you. Choose to value the cross greater than your pain and loss! 

Unforgiveness, judgment, and offense will hinder your spiritual vision, your intimacy with God and cause you to fall short of the grace of God for your life. Hebrews 12:12-15 confirms this:

Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 

I encourage you to spend time in the Word to find scriptures that are the foundation of your prayers. Be Spirit led rather than flesh led in your prayer life. Stay in unity and make the choice to forgive and you will experience an effective prayer life.