I'm Frustrated - Prayers aren't being answered. I don't understand

[FutureAndAHope]

What seeds of hope? I kinds wish God would do the same for me. I do the same with me. I feel alone in my walk.

You have still hung onto God in your troubles, or you would not be here, that is praiseworthy. God may give us encouragement from people, or his word. It is not always a bolt of lightning. For me I often went up for prayer, at different churches, people always seemed to pray one verse of scripture over me, it was "I know the plans I have for you says the LORD plans to give you a future and a hope". Eventually, I knew it was coming from God. It pulled me through the times that were not so easy because I could look forward to a good future.

 

[InThePottersChamber]

Sometimes we have to go through tough times emotionally. I was single in my early adult life, and felt I had committed sins that were separating me from God. Everything was very hard, none of the prayers that I wanted answering seemed to be. I remember wanting to be married, but I could just not seem to connect with anyone. Although looking back there were probably opportunities that I did not see right in front of me. Life was very hard, I remember having to wrestle with sin, I would sin, then feel bad, and beg for forgiveness. At one point I was going to commit suicide for I saw no hope. But now moving forward 10 years, I am now happily married, have a great job, and life is good. God has answered my prayers, but there were 30 years of struggle before my prayers became reality. We have to hang onto God even through the trials, but in the end, things will be ok.

I want to second this. I was going through a rough patch with my parents and family, we were never close, and always fought, a few times everyday. I prayed hard to God, to make my family stop being so hard on me (I'm their oldest child) and to have compassion instead of nitpicking and comparing every single thing I did. Every time another quarrel happened, I was incensed with rage, why wasn't God answering my prayer? I was seventeen at that time when I prayed, but all my life, especially since my younger brother was born when I was 5, it was as if everything I did was wrong to them. All my life the only thing I remember about my parents was how awfully strict and sometimes downright nasty they were. Fast forward almost ten years (since I started praying at 17), well, if you want to count since my birth it'd be about 26 years, now my relationship with my parents is almost perfect. Even my friends envy me, they like to ask, "How are you so emotionally stable?"

Don't give up. If you study the bible you will notice that God makes his children wait...decades.

 

[Sir Joseph]

I think others have answered your post as well as possible Sktbrdkd, leaving me little to add. I will suggest this video though for you or anyone facing this common problem that stumps both believers and skeptics. While there are no doubt many peoples' prayers that are promptly realized, there are just as many it seems that stuggle for years with no apparent answer. Following, is the best sermon I've heard yet on the subject.

 

[danielteberian]

I totally know what you are going through, and it is the most difficult thing ever. I am going through a similar situation in my life, and I know how hard it is for me. What helps me is praying for God to encourage me, praying for Him to guide me, and praying for His guidance as soon as I wake up.

Thank the Lord for all you have, for your life, for what He has planned for you. I remember reading through Deuteronomy and seeing a verse that the Holy Spirit used to encourage me and give me wisdom about my situation:

The LORD your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you. - Deuteronomy 7:22 [ESV]

Sure, God could answer all of your prayers right now, but there is a purpose in this period. You are being strengthened with each day, your faith is growing, your trust in Christ is increasing, and you will blessed for every moment you have waited. The Lord will provide you with things, one at a time, lest they overwhelm you. You need to be prepared for all that God has prepared for you. God is always on time, and His timing is often very different from our timing. Thank God, rejoice in Him, and seek His guidance every day.

I pray that you see what you have been praying for. God hears you.