15 Reasons Not All Prayers Get Heard or Answered


It is becoming commonplace in our society to hear people mock the power of prayer. These naysayers claim it is a futile practice to a nonexistent deity.

They are both right and wrong.

Their prayers – and the petitions of numerous others – are not answered or even heard. So, from their perspective they are right; their prayers are ineffective. In fact, God’s word is very specific about why.

Nevertheless, take heart, prayer is not fruitless or in vain, and God is very real. The fantastic news is the Creator does answer prayers, and He longs to respond to those who pray according to His will and ways.

So, as the graphic’s headline promises, here are 15 reasons God does not answer or hear someone’s prayers.

1 – Not praying in the name of Jesus Christ

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:13-14

2 – Not abiding in His word

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. John 15:7

3 – Pride

There they cry out, but He does not answer because of the pride of evil men. Job 35:12

4 – Wrong motives

You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. James 4:3

5 – Doubting He will respond

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8

6 – Iniquity – a grossly unfair heart

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear. Psalm 66:18

7 – Having an unforgiving heart

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

8 – When a man doesn’t honor his wife

Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered. I Peter 3:7

9 – Our requests are not His will

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us . 1 John 5:14

10 – Seeking the attention of others

And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. Matthew 6:5

11 – Ignoring the poor

Whoever shuts his ears to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be heard. Proverbs 21:13

12 – Disobedience

Whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 1 John 3:22

13 – Turning from God’s laws

One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination. Proverbs 28:9

14 – Empty, repetitious words

When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7

15 – Evil deeds

Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not hear them. He will even hide His face from them at that time because they have been evil in their deeds. Micah 3:4

A key reminder

There are times when we might think God is not answering our prayers because his response doesn’t happen on our timeframe. As it says in 2 Peter 3:8, “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

With that in mind, it’s important not to lose heart and give up on your prayers while also examining your own heart and ways to ensure you are not inhibiting His response.

Final thought from Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

If you like and are blessed by the content created by Outrider Ministries for Christ, we encourage you to regularly visit our website while also telling your family and friends about us. Never forget – you are important to us and vital to our success at spreading the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the world. May His abounding love, mercy, and grace be upon you.

Bradley "Outrider" Harrington

I’m just a guy who cares about those who are all too often ignored and forgotten. I understand that most people won’t walk through the church’s doors, especially when not invited or they feel out of place. So, after sitting on the sidelines for far too many years, I finally decided it was time for me to hit the highways, byways, waterways, streets, trails, and back-alleys of the world to encourage the disheartened, proclaim the message of Christ, serve those in need, and pray for you.

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