When we come to God in prayer, we often desire clear and immediate answers. In Luke 11:9–10, Jesus encourages us to ask, seek, and knock, assuring us that God hears and responds. But how He answers is not always as we expect. Sometimes, God says “yes” to our prayers, just as we had hoped. In Psalm 18:6, David says, “In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice…and my cry came before Him.” Similarly, Psalm 118:5 and Psalm 138 affirm God’s readiness to respond when His people call out. However, scripture also teaches that God's willingness to answer favorably is often tied to our own priorities and obedience. Matthew 6:33 tells us to “seek first the kingdom of God,” and Proverbs 3:5–10 reminds us to trust in Him fully and honor Him with our lives. According to 1 John 5:14–15, God hears us when we ask according to His will, and 1 John 3:22–24 connects answered prayer to keeping His commandments and abiding in Him.

Yet, God doesn’t always answer with a simple “yes.” At times, the answer is “yes, but not yet.” Ecclesiastes 3:1 and 11 emphasize that there is a time for everything, and God acts in His perfect timing. Luke 18:7 assures us that God will avenge His elect “speedily,” though it may not feel immediate. In those waiting periods, we are called to patience, as Hebrews 6:10–12 encourages us to imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises. Meanwhile, Luke 11:9–10 tells us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking—not giving up, even when the answer is delayed.

There are also times when God answers with “yes, but not as you think.” His ways are higher than ours, as Isaiah 55:8–9 declares. We might pray for strength, and instead God allows us to face trials, as in Philippians 1:29–30. These trials produce what we truly need—endurance, character, and hope, as described in Romans 5:3–4. When we ask for qualities like faith, love, or kindness, God may not grant them directly, but through situations that cause these traits to grow. We must not limit God’s methods. Ephesians 3:20–21 reminds us that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond what we ask or think. And since we often don’t know what to pray for as we should (Romans 8:26), how can we always know how He will respond? If we pray with a predetermined answer in mind—like only asking that the doctors be guided when praying for healing—we might limit the outcome. Instead, we should trust God to work in the best way, according to His will and power.

Sometimes, however, God says “no.” James 4:3 warns that selfish or misguided motives can result in unanswered prayers. And in Hebrews 12:5–11, we are taught that God’s discipline—even when it involves denying our desires—is a sign of His love and a way of training us in righteousness. When God says “no,” we must still trust Him. Habakkuk 3:17–19 exemplifies this attitude: even when everything is going wrong, the prophet rejoices in the Lord. A “no” is not a sign of abandonment. 1 Corinthians 12:13 teaches that we have all been baptized into one body and share in the Spirit, and 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 recounts how Paul pleaded for relief but was told, “My grace is sufficient for you.” God may say no just as any loving parent would, not out of cruelty, but because He knows what is best.

In every case—whether the answer is “yes,” “wait,” “not as you expect,” or “no”—we are called to trust the Lord, remain faithful, and continue in prayer. God’s answers may surprise us, but they are always perfect, always loving, and always for our good.

 

HOW GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS

Luke 11:9, 10

1.      Yes

A.    God may say yes to our prayer requests just as we thought He would.

1.      Ps 18:6

2.      Ps 118:5

3.      Ps 138

B.     He will be more likely to answer our prayers when we are putting Him first in our lives.

1.      Matt 6:33

2.      Proverbs 3:5-10

C.     Conditions for God to say Yes

1.      1 John 5:14, 15

2.      1 John 3:22, 24

2.      Yes, but not yet.

A.    In His time

1.      Eccl 3:1, 11

2.      Luke 18:7

B.     When we do ask God for something and His answer appears to be “yes, but wait”……

1.      We need to have patience

A.    Heb 6:10-12

2.      We must continue to ask, continue to knock, and continue to seek

A.    Luke 11:9, 10

3.      Yes, but not as you think

A.    Sometimes He answers our prayers in a different way than we expected.

1.      Is 55:8, 9

2.      For example

A.    We might ask for strength and steadfastness…

1.      And He might give us trials and tribulations to bear.

A.     Phil 1:29, 30

2.      Which in turn develops the qualities we prayed for

A.     Romans 5:3, 4

B.     We could do this for each quality we may pray for

1.      Faith, brotherly kindness, love and the answer to our prayer might be difficult situations that grow these qualities.

B.     Do not think that we can limit God’s options.

1.      If we pray and are looking for a certain answer, we are not handcuffing God.

A.    Eph 3:20, 21

2.      We do not even always know how to pray, so how can we expect to always know how God will answer

A.    Rom 8:26

3.      If we limit the how and why, we might limit the result.

A.    For example, when praying for the sick, if we ask that God be with the doctors, aren’t we limiting God to just that method through our prayer?

B.     We should just pray for God to heal the sick, and leave the how and why to Him.

4.      No

A.    There are times where God denies our requests.

1.      James 4:3

2.      Heb 12:5-11

B.     What we can do when God says “no.”

1.      We must trust in God anyways

A.    Hab 3:17-19

2.      Just because God says no, that does not mean He has abandoned us

A.    1 Cor 12:13

B.     2 Cor 12:7-9

C.     Sometimes God will say no as any good parent will have to do, and have to do frequently.