“God always answers prayer”
This statement is often followed by the explanation that God answers with either yes, no, or wait. But would those not be the same possibilities if there was no God at all and we are actually making our requests to no one? Isn’t this true of mere wishful thinking? Either what we want will come about, it won’t, or nothing definite will happen one way or the other. To say God always answers prayer in one of these three ways is neither insightful nor meaningful. Even more problematic is how this statement assumes a very limited perspective on prayer.
The only prayers that need answers are requests. If our practice of prayer is primarily about asking God for things and looking for responses then we will struggle spiritually. Our petitions naturally come from how we believe and think the world ought to be. While it is not wrong to make any and all requests in prayer, Jesus’ words “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42) reminds us that our perspective is very limited.
Paul says to make our petitions known to God and give him our anxious thoughts (Philippians 4:6), but then we are to let them go rather than wait expectantly for a response. The promised peace of God which will guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7) does not come after we’ve received an answer but through the practice of handing our anxieties over to God. The greater the issue, the longer and harder the process of giving these to God will be. An answer is not what we seek from God as much as to unburden ourselves and trust God’s faithfulness no matter what happens.
Our life of prayer is not centered on asking God to do what we want, but is the way we keep ourselves aware of God, mindful of a necessary spiritual perspective, and participating in divine fellowship. Maintaining that higher focus and deeper connection occurs, in part, when we put words to our anxieties. Prayer is not about how many or what type of answers we receive back from God, but abiding with God through pouring out our deepest concerns. Far more than making petitions, prayer is spiritual breathing that gives us life in any and all circumstances. When our physical inhaling and exhaling becomes a template of living in the Spirit of God, looking for answers will not matter much.
Instead of discussing how or how often God answers prayer, we should rely on how God is always present to us through our prayers. The Eternal Love re-experienced and which affirms our belovedness is the sustaining quality of regular personal prayer. Our Father loving us is all the answer we need. God always listens with mercy and grace, and these hands of God are enough into which we may commit ourselves (Luke 23:46).
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