Have you ever been able to guess/figure out why God said NO to a prayer?

[Anonymous]

The meaning of prayer is to help you move into line with what God wants from you , not what you want from God. If you pray for what God wants I guarantee it will happen. Usually the unanswered prayers to not fall within Gods plan or the final endgame.

[Anonymous]

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

1 Corinthians 13:12

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm not meaning this response to be mean, but maybe because God's world doesn't revolve around you and your 'no' may allow someone else to receive a 'yes'.

Is that the way it works with God? He only has so many yeses to hand out so the rest have to be no's?

Not the pp - but I think you are viewing this statement very simplistically. Sometimes, a no for one person results in a yes to another BECAUSE of the no to the first person.

Take the first example given and one of the posters response to it. A “no” to the person wanting to meet might have been because it was a “yes” to the person at work - perhaps this person at work received extra compensation, either through a raise, a promotion, or something because of it. I am not saying this is WHY this situation happened as it did - just an example.

So, God is up there answering prayers and decides which prayer is more worthy and answers that one, instead of one that cancels it out or wouldn't be possible if the first one is answered.

How do you know that?

I don’t know that. I don’t KNOW why some prayers are answered as asked and others do not. But, my life experience has taught me that sometimes, the things we ask for are not always meant to be - and usually for good reason. My view of life is that God is there to help us on our path - we make choices (sometimes not good ones) - but he is ALWAYS there

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I know they say that God answers prayers, it's just that sometimes the answer is no -- and sometimes that no is because there's a better path or to spare you from pain etc.

Did you ever have an instance when you figured out why the answer was no? I don't mean life/death/health things bc those are tough. But like you prayed to get a certain job or promotion or to meet someone and getting married or whatever and it didn't happen. Anyone have a story of something that didn't happen and then later they figured out the reason why?

I'm just thinking of a dumb example. I've had a REALLY rough time lately (unemployment) and was in town for an interview last week, where I wanted to connect with a friend and former colleague I REALLY look up to, who always makes me feel better, etc. We were supposed to be able to connect and then at the last minute, I got an email from her that work went nuts and she had to go to a meeting and wasn't sure if it would end in time. I actually found myself saying a silent prayer asking God to let us get together that day -- that's how much I needed and wanted to talk to her. It still didn't happen. Why would the answer to something like that be no? It seems like such a small request in the grand scheme.

OP, not to diminish your question or sideline this discussion, but I will comment about the example you gave, because I think it does demonstrate how many people view prayer. And please understand, I am not claiming to be a biblical or religious scholar, nor am I trying to say that your prayer to meet this person was in any way wrong.

But I think your response to the fact that she couldn't get together at the last minute is a little misplaced.

Prayer is not akin to us asking our parents, or Santa Claus, or our boss, or anyone else for "things," or to fix a situation. God is not orchestrating your friend's schedule. It's not like you said your prayer, and then God said "oh, Larla wants to meet with Ann; I'd better get on that. Oops, I just answered Ann's prayer to help her business improve and now she's going to have to stay late to meet with clients, so Larla is out of luck." Your friend couldn't meet with you because her priorities/ obligations that day did not coincide with your availability. Or, maybe she's still annoyed about the time in 2003 that you snubbed her, and she didn't want to meet with you. It could be any number of things, but I assure you it was not because God said, "No way they are getting together."

I encourage you to continue your prayer life and to take the risk of deepening it. And instead of trying to micromanage your life through prayer -- something we all do from time to time -- ask God to show you HIs way, and to help you to better trust Him through this difficult time in your life.

How did you figure out so much about how God responds to prayer? IS there someplace OP or others can find out more about this? Is it in the BIble somewhere?

Well, thank you, but I'm actually chuckling, because I feel like I know so little about this myself! But here is a great resource that has helped me a lot, with many questions on faith, God and the Bible: http://www.gotquestions.org/ There are little essays with Bible verses that answer thousands of questions about religion.

OP, try typing in something like "how does God respond to prayer."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The meaning of prayer is to help you move into line with what God wants from you , not what you want from God. If you pray for what God wants I guarantee it will happen. Usually the unanswered prayers to not fall within Gods plan or the final endgame.

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Proverbs 16:3

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 18:19

[Anonymous]

^^ meant to add +3.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

[Anonymous]

My nos have all been things that either would have harmed me if I'd gotten my way or were otherwise blessings in disguise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

I might add, that when things have not worked out so nicely for me, I can say that it has usually been a result of my own free will - choices I made that were in conflict with living a good, Christian life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

I might add, that when things have not worked out so nicely for me, I can say that it has usually been a result of my own free will - choices I made that were in conflict with living a good, Christian life.

That's right, God gets credit for the good stuff and the other stuff is a result of free will

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

I might add, that when things have not worked out so nicely for me, I can say that it has usually been a result of my own free will - choices I made that were in conflict with living a good, Christian life.

That's right, God gets credit for the good stuff and the other stuff is a result of free will

Well, if we were all able to live in God’s image and without sin, then it would ALL be good stuff. But, we are all sinners in the end.

[Anonymous]

Can you think of a time when you had to say No to your kids, and knew they wouldn't understand?

It's like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

That's just the way God made us


I might add, that when things have not worked out so nicely for me, I can say that it has usually been a result of my own free will - choices I made that were in conflict with living a good, Christian life.

That's right, God gets credit for the good stuff and the other stuff is a result of free will

Well, if we were all able to live in God’s image and without sin, then it would ALL be good stuff. But, we are all sinners in the end.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe because He wants to draw you in for closer relationship with Him, and not another person. Maybe the other person would've given you the wrong answer you needed and taken you off of your path.

Just like a child asking a parent for something and being denied without understanding why, sometimes this happens to us, but I believe it is always in our best interest. That is a big part of faith though.

And yes, I have experienced - my DH was unemployed for a year and we prayed for job after job that would seem perfect. Most required him to travel. He got none. Then I found out I was pregnant and on strict bed rest the entire time. It was meant for him to be there with me - to help, to assist when no one else was there. We never missed a meal, or payment, everything was always provided for somehow. The job my DH got was the one that allowed him to be promoted past any of the others that he wold have taken, and also kept him closer to home, with less travel and more support for a newborn.

And when things don't work out so nicely -- where is God in that?

He is a great comforter, especially when things don't work out.

I might add, that when things have not worked out so nicely for me, I can say that it has usually been a result of my own free will - choices I made that were in conflict with living a good, Christian life.

That's right, God gets credit for the good stuff and the other stuff is a result of free will

Well, if we were all able to live in God’s image and without sin, then it would ALL be good stuff. But, we are all sinners in the end.

That's just the way God made us