“I recognize that, on occasion, some of our most fervent prayers may seem to go unanswered. We wonder, ‘Why?’ I know that feeling! I know the fears and tears of such moments. But I also know that our prayers are never ignored. Our faith is never unappreciated. I know that an all-wise Heavenly Father’s perspective is much broader than is ours. While we know of our mortal problems and pain, He knows of our immortal progress and potential. If we pray to know His will and submit ourselves to it with patience and courage, heavenly healing can take place in His own way and time.”
Russell M. Nelson| Jesus Christ—the Master Healer, Ensign, Nov. 2005, 86
Another reason why God may not be answering is actually because he is answering and we are not listening! Our senses are constantly being pounded with lots of information: we kneel to pray and feel the floor under our knees or a vehicle drives past the house; our phone buzzes; rain or hail hits the window; the clock silently ticks or we can hear people talking outside of our house. It’s not a wonder why it’s difficult to find enough spiritual quiet to hear the important things God is trying to tell us. But we can make things a lot worse by failing to make a real and conscious effort to listen.
We say our prayers with feeling and sincerity, and then immediately rise and jump into our cozy bed, rise and run to work or school.
How can the Lord speak to us in these situations? It will take a lot of patience, practice and work to learn how to receive the message that our Father in Heaven is trying to tell us. If we are not listening to what God is saying, we cannot receive an answer. Because of this we may think that He isn’t listen when in reality WE are not listening!
We have to put some work in if we are to receive an answer. God isn’t going to do everything for us. If we for example want to do well on a test and don’t study, God isn’t going to help us because we didn’t do any work. We need to put in the effort to receive an answer.
“We talk to God through prayer. He most often communicates back to us through his written word.”
—Richard G. Scott
We may receive an answer but we do not recognize the answer. We need to be able to recognize any answer we get. There are tons of ways that we can receive an answer like through a dream, a thought in our mind that we know isn’t ours or through the feeling of the Holy Ghost.
The Lord will usually answer our prayers through enlightening the mind, speaking peace to the mind, telling the person “in your mind and in your heart,” filling the soul with joy ( D&C 6:15, 23; D&C 8:2; D&C 11:13–14).
God will answer you. We just need to recognize when he answers as well as patience. God will answer you in his own time.
In the end whenever it is our fault or some other reason we aren’t receiving an answer to our prayers, we will eventually receive them. If we keep asking God with real intent, doing all we can to receive an answer, God will eventually answer you.
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