You’ve tried to pray but things just aren’t working out. There’s been no answer, and frankly, you are frustrated and annoyed with God.  You question yourself as to why He doesn’t care enough to take care of your need. Or perhaps you feel abandoned or depressed, wondering why you aren’t good enough for Him to pay attention to.

Your mom told you to pray. Your grandma was a prayer warrior. Your youth pastor said it would work. Your pastor preaches about it all the time… and for what? ‘Why does God pick and choose who He will answer,’ you ask? Why does He ignore you? Why can’t He understand what you need? Why keep talking to a wall and looking foolish? Why, why why?

Seriously…. why?

The questions keep going on until you aren’t just questioning why your prayers aren’t being answered, but you question God’s love for you, or perhaps, even His existence. ‘Is His Word even true?’ you ask, because He doesn’t seem to be abiding by it Himself. What’s the use? Why them and not me? Why even try? Your heart burns within you, as anger, resentment, frustration, and hopelessness suffocate you. Then you simply, walk away, and resolve that God is just not an answer for you. So many questions, and no answers.

We all face these struggles from time to time during our lives. There is frustration when we can’t seem to get the answers we need, and so we being questioning. Often our questions though are pointed toward God’s supposed fault instead of our misunderstandings. God is perfect. But we don’t really understand perfection; we understand immediate need and gratification. When God doesn’t meet that immediate gratification, we often lay the blame on Him instead of us.

As you develop your prayer life, you will have times your prayers are not being answered. Instead of getting angry at God, consider the prayer you are requesting.

Here are some things that will hinder your prayers from being answered:

(from the World Network of Prayer)

Not fellowshipping with God: Fellowship means to have a partnership, or to spend time with.  Why would God answer the prayers of someone who never speaks to Him?

Not praying in Jesus’ Name: Jesus instructed His disciples on how to pray.  He said to pray in the name of  Jesus.

Not asking or asking with the wrong motives: If you don’t ask, your prayer won’t be answered for sure.

Don’t pray selfishly.  God wants more than your grocery list.  Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss  (amiss defined as WRONG)  

Not asking according to God’s will: God’s will is learned by reading His Word.  God will not answer a prayer that is against His will. Here are some examples:

          God make Sally fail her final in Biology.
          God strike Johnny in the head with lightning.
          Lord, let me get this job even though it will keep me out of church.
          God please help me pass this test I didn’t study for.
          Lord I hate my parents; they don’t understand me. Please help me run away.
          God I need money to get an abortion.

Not having God’s Word in you: John 15:7 – “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask what you desire   and it shall be done for you.”

Doubt & Unbelief: James 1:5-8 tells you to ask God in faith without doubting for your request to be fulfilled.

Giving Up: Luke 18:1 tells us to pray and faint not.  

Not being in agreement: Matthew 18:9  – “if any two of you agree, it will be done.”

Unforgiveness: “if you forgive men their trespasses, your father will forgive yours.”

Unconfessed Sin: Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:”

Don’t give up on prayer. God always answers, even if the answer is, ‘No.’ And when He answers, ‘No,’ remember that He knows your situation and your future… and He works all things out for our good. Pray for His understanding.

Colleen Clabaugh
WNOP Kids & Youth Prayer Coordinator

When we are angry the one thing we want is resolution or justice. Rarely do we want to be sweet and even less do we want to pray. However, prayer works and though we can find alternative ways to help our anger, prayer works best. Here are some ways that can help you pray through your anger before anger gets over on you.

Jesus gave us a great example: “In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.  Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle.  He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here!  Stop making my Father’s house a market place!” John 2:14 -16

Breathe slowly…act slowly. When Jesus became angry, he didn’t automatically start reacting. He did an activity that slowed down his actions and calmed his nerves some and gave him proper focus to teach a spiritual lesson. Often when we are angry all we can think of is immediate resolve, which can skew our rational thinking. When the adrenaline is flowing fast, it’s hard to not respond. Slow down. Think about your situation and what you are going to do before you do it.  Breathe deep and slow. Pray for God to show you how you should respond. Think about what He would do.

Be rational. If you are going to speak at that moment ask yourself if your action are rational, and can help the situation. If they will not help, then don’t do it, or say it. Many arguments and situations are made worse by the way people react in their anger. Saying hurtful words in response will not help. Hitting someone will not help. Doing abusive behavior to that person or to you will not help. Again, ask God how you should respond. Walk away, if necessary, and then come back to the situation when you can think straight.

Weigh the problem. Ask yourself if the problem is really that big in light of all of life or eternity. Too many relationships are damaged over small things that really don’t matter.

Write it down.  If you can’t discuss or address a problem calmly, try to write down your feelings and thoughts. Putting your words on paper is much better than throwing them at another individual. Writing will often release emotions and help us clarify what is bothering us. Emotional responses can be communicated wrong and often one wrong word can permanently damage. After writing down your response, pray for God to help you share what you’ve written in a calm manner.

Accept responsibility. If you are partly or fully the cause of the problem, accept responsibility; don’t try to cover it or justify your behavior. Covering your shortcomings doesn’t help anything. Responding in anger because someone addressed a wrong you did won’t fix the wrong or help you to change. We can only change when we accept our fault. Ask God to help you be true and accountable. We all make mistakes but God can help us overcome them when we ask for help.

Accept that others make mistakes. None of us are perfect. Give grace to others when they mess up, like you want them to show grace to you. Forgive them, as you want them to forgive you. If you do not forgive, God cannot forgive you. Pray for God to help you to forgive and let go of wrong doings instead of letting it become a bitter poison in you.

Tell God you are mad. It’s ok to tell God how you feel, even when you are really mad. Be honest. When we are open, and don’t hold things in, then we can heal and become more rational. Hiding anger will only cause bitterness and a revengeful spirit.

Here is a sample prayer you can pray when you are dealing with anger:

Lord, I’m really angry. Things seem unfair and things aren’t right. Right now I want to say things I shouldn’t, or do something to get revenge. I want to scream at the world or at person who hurt me, but that won’t do any good. Please, I need help to deal with this. I don’t want to think these bad thoughts; help me to dwell on the good and the positive things in my life. Help me get rid of this burning inside my heart.

Lord, I know to hold anger in my spirit is wrong. I have some bitterness and unforgiveness in me. I’ve reacted wrong to others and said some things at times that I shouldn’t have. I’ve hurt others and not just myself being this angry. I confess this, and ask You to forgive me and take this anger away. Heal any wounds that I have inflicted, through my words and actions, in others and myself. Help me to speak kind words and forgive. Help me to make things right with those that I have been angry with.

 I ask you to help me think good thoughts. I don’t need revenge; that is your job. I need peace and I want this situation to make me a better person. Help me to learn something from it that is good.

 As Your Word says; “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee.” I will react right. I will make amends. I will not let my emotions control me. I will respond as You did… with love and forgiveness.

 In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Colleen Clabaugh
Kids & Youth Prayer Coordinator – World Network of Prayer