Are your prayers “good enough”?

 Sincere prayer has really been on my heart lately — wondering whether I am praying “sincerely enough”.

Naturally, we expect “good” prayer to result in the clouds opening with a flourish and Jesus coming out to smile upon us. If that were true, it would only be logical that “bad” prayers result in nothing, and therefore more doubt. And before we realize it, we have stumbled onto religion that requires you to earn your salvation.

Fortunately, it doesn’t work like that.

Am I the only one who feels my prayers sometimes aren’t heard?

When I go through a dry spot in my faith, it can feel like I pray and pray and pray all day long and I feel nothing. My heart feels stone-cold. Scripture seems to be locked up with a key. The whispers of doubt are seeping in like toxic gas, and can continue to multiply until I no longer have control.

One of my favorite quotes is “Don’t doubt in the dark what God told you in the light”. When we give space to other “loves” in our hearts, we can begin to forget the truth. Sometimes we forget who we are.

 

But the Word says we can safely and confidently approach God with our prayers! When we ask anything according to his will, he hears us – John 5:14.

And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen. Matthew 21:21

Even though I can’t see any mountains being moved as a direct result of my prayers, I must take His word for granted when he says that I am heard by him.

But isn’t there a kind of prayer which God will not hear?

Like if I asked God to please give me $100,000 right away so that I can go buy a new car. If he’s God and so powerful, how come it’s not happening?

This is an issue of the heart. The point of prayer is to cave fellowship with God, seeking his desires for me in my life. His ways are definitely not my ways, and thanks be to God for that! Due to my own sinful nature, I do not always know what is right for myself, only He knows what is best. That is why I must submit to his will for me.

But I am praying within his will, why does it still seem like he’s not listening?

Sometimes we pray for things that are clearly good, like to be married, or for a loved one who is very sick. Again, remember that God is Mighty, God is Sovereign, and God alone knows what is best for us

He has His own reasons. Maybe He has appointed a period of sickness for this person’s life. Maybe his answer is “not yet”, He is sovereign and does what he wants. That does not mean that your prayers are useless.

Is there something on your heart that weighs heavy? Does it seem like prayer gets you nowhere? Don’t be discouraged, but put your faith to action and believe despite the darkness. He will never abandon you.