You keep praying but nothing seems to be changing. You’re constantly wondering why does God say no to my prayers? This is a hard situation to be in so let’s tackle this question.

black woman witting on top of a building in front a skyscraper

“No, Dalton! Don’t touch that!”

No was a word that had become part of my regular vocabulary now that my son had become a toddler. He was in to just about everything so I had to keep my eyes (and ears) open to make sure he didn’t get into something he shouldn’t.

As I continued tying my shoes so that we could take our walk, he reached for the cord again.

He was standing just a few feet away from me in my bathroom and the cord he was pulling was connected to a hair dryer on the counter above him, which he couldn’t see.

Just as he reached for the cord a second time I finished tying my shoe and was able to get to him before he tugged on it hard enough to pull the hair dryer down from its resting place and onto his head.

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Why does God say no to my prayers?

As we made our way outside for our walk it hit me. How many times has the Lord said not to me and my prayers with me getting upset because I didn’t understand? (If I’m being honest, it’s probably been countless times!)

The twists and turns of my life are like the cord that Dalton was pulling. And just like Dalton couldn’t see the hair dryer on the counter, I too can’t see the dangers or circumstances that are ahead of me on this journey of life.

I get upset when the Lord says no to my prayers because that’s a path I want to take.

Why can’t I do that Lord?

Why can’t I have that or be that?

And just as I lovingly removed Dalton from the dangerous situation that he couldn’t see, the Lord lovingly tells me no and redirects my path over and over again.

When the Lord says no to your prayers know that He has a bigger and better plan in store for your life!

When God said no to my prayer!

It was time to start thinking about school for our son and after months of praying for the Lord’s direction we felt like we had a plan in place.

We made a list of the top three schools where we felt the Lord leading us and began moving forward.

The first school on our list was a magnet school where he had to be tested. I was so hopeful that this was the place for him but my hopes were crashed when we received a letter that he didn’t make it in.

After touring school number two on our list we learned that their classes were already full for the school year.

God saying no to my prayer was so hard!

As you can imagine, I was devastated when the doors for the first two schools on the list were slammed shut.

I questioned the Lord and truly didn’t understand why He would have put those places on our hearts if that’s not where He wanted Dalton.

It wasn’t until a few years later until I learned why the Lord didn’t want us at that first school that I had my heart so set on. (In case you’re wondering he ended up at school number three on our list.)

Friend, we don’t always get a reason when God says no to our prayers but this was like an a-ha moment.

After that a-ha moment my eyes were opened and I was so grateful that He closed the door to school number one. It was so hard at the time but I realized that the Lord truly did have our best interest at heart and worked it out for His good.

woman sitting on a grassy hill looking at the ocean

What to do when God says no to my prayers.

It’s so hard when God says no to our prayers, especially when we feel like the thing we’re praying for was His will.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'”

So what do you do when God says no to your prayers?

Trust!

I know that sounds so cliche but I say that from the bottom of my heart.

Trust that He knows what He’s doing and has a purpose for saying no.

It may not feel like the Lord knows what He’s doing or that He has your best interest at heart when he says no to your prayers, but I promise He does.

Years may pass before you see His plan in your life, or you may never know why He chose to say no, but rest assured that He has a plan.

He hasn’t forgotten about you and what you’re going through. In fact, He’s right there with you every step of the journey!

Do your best to trust Him and wait for His timing.

If He’s trustworthy with your eternity then you can definitely trust Him with the day-to-day circumstances of your life!

What happens if God doesn’t answer my prayers?

Being in a season of waiting is so very difficult. We live in a fast paced society where we can have almost anything right when we want it.

So when we have to wait for anything it feels like an eternity. (Trust me, I’ve been there myself and it’s so confusing and hard!) 

Here are a few questions you can ask yourself if you’re waiting for your prayers to be answered.

What am I focusing on?

Instead of constantly focusing on God not answering your prayer request I want to encourage you to focus on the ways He has showed up in your life or been faithful to you and your family in the past. 

Am I reading my Bible?

Dive into the Word and find some promises that you can cling to. The Psalms have been a huge comfort to me during difficult times.

Instead of focusing on your unanswered prayers, focus on the promises from scripture instead. 

Grab a copy of my free 30 day Psalms Bible reading plan and get in the word in just 10 minutes a day!

Am I in a small group and/or going to church?

When you’re around other believers not only are they able to encourage and pray over you but you’ll also reminded that you’re not the only one in the world who is going through a hard time. It can definitely change your mindset.

Is anything in my life hindering my prayers from being answered?

Are you walking in blatant disobedience to the Lord’s Word?

Have you said no to something the Lord has asked you to do/not do?

Do you have unconfessed sin in your life?

If you’re not following what He’s already asked you to do why would He show you the next step?

asian woman holding a piece of white grass

A prayer over you as you wait for your prayers to be answered.

Father God, I lift my friend up to you. I pray peace and comfort over her heart as she’s in a season of waiting.

Will you guide and direct her to exactly where she needs to be? Help her to seek you and your will for her life.

I pray that you’ll show up in her life and remind her, in a very special way, how much you love her.

Reveal to her anything that’s hindering her from her prayers being answered.

Guide her to the perfect scripture promises that she can cling to.

Surround her with friends that can encourage her and point her to you.

Draw her to you in this season of waiting, Father.

Thank you for what you’re going to do in and through her life. Amen!

Why do we pray when God says no?

We pray to invite God into our circumstance.

God’s not going to invade your life, you have to let Him in.

Revelation 3:20 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

When someone knocks on your front door they patiently wait for you to open it and let them in. God is the same way.

Every day he knocks on the door of your heart but many times you’re too busy for Him.

When you pray you invite Him in!

We pray to draw closer to the Lord.

What do you do when you want to grow in a relationship?

Spend time with that person? Talk to them?

The same is true with the Lord.

James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and he will come near to you.”

We pray for our circumstance to change but the Lord changes us in the process.

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