Do prayers ever go unanswered? Does God ever let us languish in the anxiety of waiting for an answer to a prayer we have been praying for days, or weeks, or months, or even years? Is God obligated to answer our prayers according to our timetable, or according to our desired outcome?

This is perhaps one of the most difficult theological conundrums Christians face. Why does God not answer our prayers the way we hoped He would? Why does He allow the illness to linger? Why does He allow the suffering to persist? Why does He allow the wayward child to continue down that black hole of depravity? Why doesn’t He salvage the marriage? Why? Why? Why?

Some would even raise the question as to why we should pray at all. Is there any reason to maintain a consistent prayer life? Is there any hope to receive the answer we desire when we have seen so many prayers end in a most undesirable way. We pray for the healing of the disease, but it not only lingers, it actually worsens. The suffering grows more intense. The pain continues its debilitating work on our frail bodies. The wayward child continues to walk down that path of self-destructive behavior. That marriage partner continues in his/her infidelity.

If we believe the Bible’s clear and consistent teaching about the power of God, and if we embrace the Bible’s emphasis on the immensity of the love of God, then why is His power not motivated by His love to intervene? Does the Bible not teach that He does indeed have the power to heal all manner of disease? We have so many explicit examples of healing in Scripture. If He could do it for one, could He not do it for all? In the Old Testament we have examples of God intervening on behalf of His chosen people Israel by defeating nations that were out to completely destroy them. Could not He intervene today to alleviate the tensions that exist between nations?

This is one of the great mysteries of the Christian faith. And it is nothing new. This matter of grave perplexity has been around from the beginning of creation. Ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, humanity has suffered the ravages of the horrific effects of sin. Sickness, suffering of all kind, murders, rapes, wars, are all results of the fall. God has brought about the plan of redemption which gives sinful man the opportunity to be saved from the penalty of sin, but not from the products of sin. We live in a sinful world, filled with sinful people, who commit atrocious sinful acts.

But still, could God not circumvent the ravages of sin, and right the wrongs of the world? There is a classic answer to that question found in the prophecy of Daniel. Those three young Hebrew boys – Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – knew the answer. When told by the king that if they refused to bow down and worship a golden image the king had ordered to be worshiped they would be thrown into a raging, fiery furnace. Their response to the king gives us some insight in how we are to face the difficulties and dilemmas life might throw at us along the way.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, Of king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”

Daniel 3:16-18

Their faith was in the power of God, and undoubtedly in the love of God. They trusted that God would do what was right. Their faith led them to believe that God could deliver them, and that He would deliver them from the hand of the king. This faith led them to entrust themselves to His care and keeping, regardless of the outcome.

Prayer is the vehicle through which we give our requests to God, believing that He does indeed have the power to remove the problem, while at the same time resting peacefully in His loving embrace knowing that His will is best, and our lives are to bear testimony to His grace and goodness as we lay our requests at His feet and trust Him for His desired purposes to be fulfilled.

Until next time:

Blessings!