"I prayed and nothing happened"

It happens to me also so many times, I have seen so many answered prayers & promises. And yet some are still to come to pass. God only knows how much I have believe and prayed and still interceding for, but one thing I have understand is that not to run away to God for all unfulfilled prayers and promises, but instead to run to God more eanerstly, more eagerly and Let His presence comfort me. He is the best comforter, the greatest refuge, the greatest friend.
It is also in these hard times that we know the value of a friend. And in hard times I can say none is like the Holy Spirit.
I have understand that I do not need to understand it all, it is not why this and why that, that shall bring the answer. People like to come to conclusion, like to conclude with the mind and experience knowledge it may be lack of this and that, whatever we lack, know that God is all that we need, He shall be the bridge, and it is to Him we need to run to whenever we are facing unfulfilled prayers/promises, as it is Him alone that can give us the strength, faith, perseverence to go through difficult situation. And then we can say God I shall trust in you more and more and more, no matter the circumstances what your words say is true and I shall believe and trust and rely upon, God shall be my strength when I have not any.

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People blame others for their lack in the natural, so it stands to reason they'll blame others for their lack spiritually.

It seems all to common to see adults act like 2yr olds throwing a tantrum as soon as they don't get what they prayed and asked God for, and get it right now. They don't understand why and so they are mad at God or those who say trust God.

We are never going to fully understand God. He's God. Our job is to please Him by living by faith in His Word. To continue trusting Him even when we don't understand or know why or how.... even when the storms come... especially then do we need to turn to Him and not away...

Good post! I agree.

And good posts by everybody. I'm enjoying the reading of how we WoF handle the 'unanswered prayer' issue.

I have been asked this question most often in relation to brother/sister so and so going home to be with The Lord. The typical question, I prayed, I believed God, but they still died, what happened?

In this case, I remind them that the other person's faith and will is involved. My mom passed in '05. In '97 she was diagnosed with a liver condition, she was a new believer, she wanted to live to see her grandkids. We prayed and believed God with her, she lasted 8 more years, saw her grandkids, but I would bring books on healing, etc. and she would never read them, never listen to the tapes. When she was told she was terminal- i offered to pray with her- but she declined. I am tired and want to go home she said. As death drew near and was imminent within 48 hours, she wanted to pray. I prayed and asked the Lord, He told me to prepare her to go home. I ministered to her about Heaven, and a short time later she took off. But see, her will was involved. She did not value healing early on, so there was nothing in her to work with. People have to be willing and have be planting and growing their faith. You do not know where people are at often times.

When it comes to their own needs, I would agree with Hosea 4:6- that My people are perished for the lack of knowedge.

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"I am a spirit being. I have a soul. And I live in a body. Saying that helped me become more spirit-concious. It helped my faith, because faith is of the spirit, or the heart." Kenneth E. Hagin

Aren't there times people are healed on our faith, not theirs? Why is their faith at times that must be involved, and not others? Is it whether or not they're a Christian already?

We see in James that if any man is such he should call for the elders of the church, and if he has sinned he should confess his sin and he will be healed.

Yet, we know one can be healed by latching onto the Word, or by the prayer of agreement.

There are different ways of receiving.

What thoughts do you (anyone) have on this?

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When one asked a leader of a Hindu nation what would cause them to move towards Christianity he responded with great clarity and directness, “First, I would suggest all you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”

Thanks for sharing that about your mom, Pastor Russ. I know people that have suffered with the same issue over losing loved ones. You're right we have to remember the will of others is involved and we can't know fully where they are at.

Last Sunday my pastor taught on the fact that a lot of people believe God 'can' - they just don't think He is 'willing'. Like the case of the leper in Matt 8 questioning Jesus "if you are willing." (The encouraging news in this account is that God can work in our lives even with some doubt and unperfect faith.)

This leper had enough faith to turn toward Jesus for help. When people get in the Word their knowledge of what God's will is increases and so does their faith.

If we could grasp a greater understanding that God 'can' and God 'will' in our lives, we would step out and receive more of His promises and blessings by faith. I've discovered that growing my faith is one of the most exciting things to accomplish on this journey of life...

God's blessing to all -
Brenda

Cindy,

You can push your faith on someone who is in neutral or has a little faith and is wavering. But you cannot push your faith on someone who is in reverse.

If someone calls the elders of the church they have faith - not much faith, but a little faith. It takes faith and energy and humility to call the elders. Now the elders should be full of faith, and can share their full of faith with the little faith and see a healing.

But if someone is adamant that God can't or won't do it, there is little you can do except teach them the truth (cf. Mark 6.5-6).

Blessings,
Ben

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Never let experiences or circumstances determine how you interpret the Word.

Stand on the Word and change your experiences and circumstances.

Let me say this too.

There are SOME cases where the person feels like their life is spent, and they just want to let go. It is not a matter so much of whether they had faith, but sometimes it is just a matter of will. When people get past a certain age, they know in themselves that eventually we all pass from this life.

Grace's grandmother was 80 years old when she died almost two months ago.

We came in to her room and exercised all faith, as far as we knew.

But I think her internal clock just wound down.

She had lived a long and full life with five children, and a husband who had passed on before she did. She had Alzheimer's, stomach cancer, colon cancer, blindness, lungs were filling up with fluid so as to stop her breathing, and a bunch of other complicating conditions. I believe in faith just as much as the next person, but I feel like SOME Word Of Faith believers don't understand that there's just a point where you have to let go, and let the individual own the charge over their own lives.

Some people are just tired of fighting.

It's not that they don't have faith. They just don't want to keep draining their emotions, or their family's emotions, or the bank account [which would otherwise have been a good inheritance for the children], or everyone's time. Sometimes there's just a line where you have to say "no more".

I say this with all compassion.

And what if someone who was 80 or 90 did receive a healing miracle?

How long are they going to live anyway?

Not that we should lack faith or quit praying, but after a certain age, it's a whole lot more "when" than it is "if". It's only a matter of time.

That being said, we should never ever give up.

All I AM saying is that if the person is very elderly, and they just want to move on, and let their family move on, especially after a VERY extended illness, sometimes you have to consider their feelings and wishes as well as your own.

It is, after all, THEIR life.

And Jesus did say, "According to YOUR faith, be it unto YOU."

I hope this doesn't offend anyone. Just trying to be honest.

Let us think about those who died while we were praying for them. If it had been Jesus, not us, praying for them, would they still have asked Jesus to let them enter the rest?

Faith isn't required for what you see. It takes faith when you don't see, and when you don't feel good.

If Jesus is there praying for them, than they see, and they are in His presence, and they have entered that rest. We are told to enter that rest here, now, when we do not see. That is faith.

Hebrews 4:1 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.

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When one asked a leader of a Hindu nation what would cause them to move towards Christianity he responded with great clarity and directness, “First, I would suggest all you Christians, missionaries and all, must begin to live more like Jesus Christ. Second, practice your religion without adulterating it or toning it down. Third, emphasize love and make it your working force, for love is central in Christianity. Fourth, study the non-Christian religions more sympathetically to find the good that is within them in order to have a more sympathetic approach to the people.”