Why pray when there are no answers?

@krupesh (2608)
India
April 5, 2010 10:08pm CST
Most of us pray to get some answers from the almighty.But not even once we get the perfect answers.Then why pray?Why will our prayers go waste?Is it just for our satisfaction that we pray or is it something else to it?
5 people like this
46 responses
@galileo2008 (1141)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
A Prayer consists of praising God, thanking God for the blessings received, asking for forgiveness, and asking for more blessings. Just trust in Him and believe that He will provide. Don't lose hope because God answers your prayers in His time. He knows when is the right time, and everything happens for a reason. God never fails to listen to your prayers, and He's always with us. Don't lose hope. He is with us always.
2 people like this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
Thanks for the input.Its important that we dont lose hope as HE is always with us in times of difficulty.But my question is why doesn't HE have answers for the poor & downtrodden?
1 person likes this
@genki_7 (138)
• Canada
6 Apr 10
galileo2008: Not many people get that formula correct (even if it's outlined in Matthew 6:10-14). Kudos to you for knowing what the Lord requires of us in our prayers, and kudos to you for following what Yeshua (Jesus) gave as an example. :)
1 person likes this
• Canada
6 Apr 10
That's not the only reason for prayer. Prayer can put your mind to rest when you can't sleep. Prayer can help calm you and make you feel more positive about your life. I think it's important to think there's something out there bigger than we are, and that it's important to act as if someone's always watching.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
..we should pray is it just because HE is watching?
• Canada
7 Apr 10
no, I mean we should treat people better. It's not because HE is watching but for ourselves, treating people better and doing better ourselves with everything in our lives. It makes you feel better, it has nothing to do with him.
@sconibear (8016)
• United States
6 Apr 10
I prey to keep me and my family fed so we don't go hungry. I usually prey on small game and birds, but sometimes if I get a chance I will prey on larger........ .......Oh...............nevermind!
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
For that you need not pray just work for two meals a day.
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
6 Apr 10
Mostly berries though right sir? Bears eat a diet that consists 80% of berries, barks, and other vegetation, then eat whatever they don't have to fight for. Great big scavengers that they are. With appreciation.
1 person likes this
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
6 Apr 10
Hello Krupesh....people pray for different reasons,and not merely to get answers to all their questions....We pray to the almighty to seek his blessings,to seek his support,to seek pardon for the wrongs we do,for protection from evil,to thank him when we are happy ,and to seek his support when we are facing some difficulty in life.Believe me,our prayers will never go to waste,and instead will always act as a pillar of strength to face life with all its ups and downs....Life is not a bed of roses for all human beings,they have to step on thorns hidden in between the roses....This is indeed painful,but prayers give us added strength to face the pain,since our prayers will never go unanswered,come what may...........
1 person likes this
@Roseo8 (2947)
• India
7 Apr 10
exactly krupesh!!!! and good luck to you.........
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
Thnaks for the good input here...its just the beleif we should have before we pray & that might answer our problems right?
1 person likes this
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
6 Apr 10
I pray to the Lord Almight, God of Abraham, God of Issac, God of Moses, with a sincere heart, and serious intent oddly enough, when I pray in this way, I feel the presence of the Holy Ghost visit me for a time. I consider this an answer, sometimes I pray for knowledge of a thing, and I remember that in the epistle of James, he says, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth unto all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given." So, I ask for wisdom, guidance, strength, and blessings, joy and abundance. I also give thanks for all these things that I currently possess. The perfect answer, is what God answers, in His way, and in His time. They never go to waste, for even the ones that are not granted in this lifetime, or ever, are heard, and best to not be granted for our own good, or because it is not something that we truly want. For our satisfaction yes, as well, as it lets God know we Love Him. After all, as Christians, Jews, Muslims, and all others that use the God of Adam, Noah, Moses, and Aaron, and David, we are supplicated to pray to him. With appreciation.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
You are at it again Scott.Straight with a perfect answer.I donno whether my prayers will be answered by the Almigty but I got the answer for my question from you.
1 person likes this
@overwith (101)
• United States
6 Apr 10
I like all the post to this discussion but I think you answered so that anyone should be able to understand. I have a hard time sometimes understanding God's way but I know the Bible says lean not to our own understanding. God's way is not our way so I know we have to trust in him and know that he will be there even when we think he isn't. Thank you for your post because it helped me to think harder about how God works. I don't know if this helped anyone else but it sure did me. There was a time that I wanted a certain thing to happen in my life. I had told noone and I prayed a fasted for it. I fasted when I felt God's spirit telling me to and I spent hours at night praying that I would be blessed with the thing that I wanted to happen. After about a month I wondered what more I could do and it came to me that I had not thanked God one time because by thanking him for what he was going to do was letting God know that I trusted him to do this for me. After I started thanking him and continuing to pray I went to church on a regular church night and this lady that I went to church with told me that she had been praying and God showed her to tell me that he had heard my prayer and he would answer in his time not mine. My prayer was answered within a week. As I said noone knew I was seeking God for anything not even my husband. Now that shows that God is with us and hears us even when we think he is not. No prayer is a waste of time. Good night all myLotters I will pray for a nice night for all.
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
When we pray, we communicate with God. It's not all the time that we ask and ask. That's being greedy. And you're right, we don't get the perfect answers that we want but that is the perfect answer He thinks is right for us.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
...but what is the use in praying when we dont get the perfect answers?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
The 'perfect answer' you are referring to is from your own idea. The real perfect answer is what the almighty is giving us whenever we pray.
1 person likes this
• India
6 Apr 10
I don’t think we should ever pray in expectation of anything from God…its not a give & take relation that we have to get something everytime we pray. If we are praying only in times of need or to get something, then I think we are lacking in our belief and sincerity. Prayer should be for self satisfaction and also to get inner strength and peace.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
yes sudipta your are right in saying that prayer is for self satisfaction , to get inner strength & peace.
1 person likes this
@zandi458 (28102)
• Malaysia
6 Apr 10
Part of the reason for all these "refusals" is that we are looking at prayer in a distorted way. we're viewing it, essentially, with the same kind of consumer mentality with which we view the rest of domestic living, we want this, that, and the other thing, and we want it now. But God is not some supermarket clerk, and the world is not some huge Wal-Mart. As long as we continue to labor under this misconception, we will continue to get upset every time God says no to us. The harsh reality is that God has some very strict, guidelines he goes by when "considering" our prayer requests, and they are sometimes difficult for us to accept.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
"consumer , supermarket clerk , Wal-Mart" sweet , short & simple which made me understand for which I could not get the answers till now.
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
Praying for me is not just to ask something to God. I pray because I want to talk to him. But then if we asked and got answered and we think that the answer is not the way we want it to be it is because the answer we have is the better for us than what we expected.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
..so you mean to say that if our prayers are answered then it would be better than what we had expected?
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (98517)
• India
6 Apr 10
Hi krupesh, I think when we are bogged down by some issues, our thinking goes haywires. When we turn to our loved ones at such times, we get different answers which add to the confusion. At times, we would like to protect our loved ones, and therefore remain under tension leading to some other issues. Note - nothing is helping, is it? When we pray we actually give our mind the liberty to accept that there is a way out and that is what we want, and we also tell ourselves there is somebody out there who can make that wish happen. So it has a placebo effect. Once the nerves calm down - the traffic jam of thoughts gets cleared, and we can resume the thinking process. Obviously, we come to rational decisions after that. Sounds like I am an atheist, isn't it? No - I am not. Somebody is responsible for creating earth and stars, and us. He has his ways - they may not be obvious and not dramatic, certainly you wont see him or his angels coming to tell you - most of the time. But when and ever you look back, you can think of how you surmounted a problem, and you'd know that something you did - something you said - rather somebody let you think something - that helped you to come out of it. Sorry for the long response.
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
oh it was too & I almost got confused but HE came to my rescue...lolz...that apart When we pray we actually give our mind the liberty to accept that there is a way out and that is what we want, and we also tell ourselves there is somebody out there who can make that wish happen. ...well this clears everything for me.
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
Oh no that has never been my attitude. Not all my prayers weren't answered..some were given not at once..some granted immediately.But i do believe that God knows whats best for us.I leave to Him the final decision if He will give me my wishes or not and the right time to grant them. I cannot imagine leaving the rest of my days not depending of prayers.Cause its my gateway to Him. and im useless if He is not my life. (^_^)
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
Cause its my gateway to Him ...well thats the perfect answer to my discussion.
1 person likes this
@ghieptc (2522)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
I think we pray because we need answer from God. God answer you have to wait in proper time or it is already answer in different form without your knowing it. God uses different instrument to solve our wishes and dreams.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
ya you are right.Its better to wait & accept his answers.You never know when & where HE has answered our prayers right?
1 person likes this
@zim1fW (285)
• Philippines
17 Apr 10
There is always an answer--Yes or No. Only that we want the answer to be always a "Yes." Those who really know how to pray and live a prayerful life always know when and what answer was given.
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
answers pray! some prayers that need a time to answer. maybe not this time, it depends upon the situation. because God can only know when He grant our prayers. there's a time for an answer of every prayer. don't be hurry! have patience on it!
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
yes cherwin one need to be patient even while dealing with HIM.
1 person likes this
• China
6 Apr 10
Hi,krupesh! I alway think of this question when i was young,and i have the same confusion as you.Do you think almighty God exist?Honestly,i believe because i believe that people who do their best will succeed one day.God will alway be there seeing what you have done and how you persist. One another hand,no matter whether you believe God or not.We human being have one's ideology such as hope,faith and so on.And these can play a great role to help people especially when they are in trouble or other terrible situation.It can also give a enormous mental momentum to make up their minds when they are confused about something.It's very horrible if someone loss his hope.So never loss your hope when you are in trouble.Persist untill success.God will see it and he will reward your effort someday. Have a nice day!
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
Yes HE will always be there for the people who are good ... but who are those good people is the question?
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
6 Apr 10
Hi krupesh, when we are in helpless situation and find that no way to settle the problem, what we can do is to say prayer. Though we know we won't get any answer but we at least get the tranquility after doing that. Yeah, we say prayer is not hopping to get anything. Anyway this is one of the way to express our feeling when facing difficulty. More over we don't say prayer only when facing any problem. I have the habit to say prayer just right before bedtime Have a nice day
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
...so you mean to say that you pray just for the sake of it..is it?
1 person likes this
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
There are answers I believe so but it comes in different forms. And sometimes the answer is not clear but we just realized it. Why do i said this. Because I have prayers that happened immediately and happened for quite a long time. I prayed to whatever happened to God help me to finished my college education and I did. But when it comes to lottery I prayed even before to win it, I won last year but only small amount, but it did happened. Some prayers are not meant to us, God have a better plans for us so he give it in different form. But I believe prayers are heard and be given in a right time and in the right reason.
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
oh GOD ! You are one of the luckiest to have been answered for your prayers from HIM.I wish HE heard my prayers before I bought a lottery ticket.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
6 Apr 10
if we believe in HIM...we get the answers in some way or the other and if you are the true follower he will direct you to the right path always... Bible words say that- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding, In all your ways acknowledge HIM and He shall direct your paths.
1 person likes this
@ckyera (17332)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
hello krupesh... i pray to God not only to ask for something but also to thank and worship Him... God definitely is answering our prayers (well depends on your faith) but there's a right time for everything, we should know how to wait and have faith on Him. and sometimes, God give us not what we want but what we need... and for all i know, our prayers don't go to waste at all..praying is a way of communicating to our God. and when i pray and i feel His presence that's more than enough answer for me...
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
Thats true that we should have faith in HIM whether we get answers or not.Its better to thank HIM rather pray isn't it?
1 person likes this
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
6 Apr 10
you have it all wrong.We pray for answers but God knows what is best for us. There is a saying"be careful what you pray for as you might get it". God does things in his way and in his time. He knows our heart and he will provide what we need not what we want. Prayer is a necessary task for us to stay close to God. Keep praying but don't forget the smallest little,tiny things you are not paying attention to could be the answer you are looking for and just do not realize it. God Bless and never quit praying.
@intelpink (163)
• Philippines
6 Apr 10
The problem is that we have a wrong notion and purpose of prayer. We think that prayer is only a key to have blessings or good favor in life. Well, I want to tell right now that it's not the main reason why we should pray to God. we should pray because we need to speak to God not just because we need something. We need God and that's a fact. He loved us and gave Himself to die on the cross for us so that we as sinners will not go to hell. He loved us first. But many people don't recognized that. They don't even bother of thinking about God. Prayer is a way to be closer to God and asking for something is just a part of it.
1 person likes this
@krupesh (2608)
• India
6 Apr 10
yes you are right but prayer is different from thanking HIM isn't it?
1 person likes this