The folks in Jesus’ day knew “that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him” (John 9:31). God will hear the prayers of the righteous. James tells us that the prayers of the righteous get results (James 5:16). How does God respond to our prayers? Sometimes God will say “Yes” to our requests as He did to Elijah (James 5:17). Elijah prayed that it would not rain, and God granted his request.
There are occasions when God says “No.” Of course, if we are not doing His will, we should expect “No” for an answer to our prayers. Yet, even the righteous were sometimes told “No.” We have the example of our Lord pleading with the Father to “let this cup [of suffering and death] pass away from me…” (Matthew 26:39). It was needful for the sake of mankind that God say “No” to His Son (Hebrews 5:7).
Then, there are times when God says “Wait a while.” For example, Judah’s leaders came to the prophet Jeremiah and asked him to pray for them. Jeremiah obliged, and 10 days later the response of Jehovah came to Jeremiah (Jeremiah 42:1-7).
Occasionally, God may give us something different than what we asked. The apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh and asked God three times to take it away. God did not do as Paul asked. Rather, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for thee…” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
Sometimes God may give us more than we asked. He is certainly able (Ephesians 3:20). Remember when Solomon prayed for an understanding heart? God told him, “Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself a long life, neither hast thou asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies, but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern justice; behold, I have done according to thy word: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there hath been none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee. And I have also given thee that which thou hast not asked, both riches and honor, so that there shall not be any among the kings like unto thee, all thy days” (1 Kings 3:7-14).
Our God “is God in heaven above, and on earth beneath” (Joshua 2:11). He is Almighty God (Genesis 17:1). In God’s hand is power and might (1 Chronicles 29:12). With Him “nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). God can and will hear and answer prayer.
With Paul, we need to trust that “my God shall supply every need…” (Philippians 4:19). Keep in mind that God knows “what things ye have need of, before ye ask him” (Matthew 6:8). In righteousness, convey your thanksgivings, your prayers and your supplications unto the Father above.
