What do we do when our prayers seem unanswered?
What do we do when our prayers seem unanswered? One of our pastors, Alan Woods, considers the answer.
UNANSWERED PRAYER?
It's very easy to read parts of the Bible or to listen to some voices in the broader Christian community and think ‘Why are my prayers not answered as I had hoped? There must be something wrong with me.’
Recently I was reading Matthew 7: "Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!". What then are the ‘good things’ Jesus promises?
I have Christian friends outside of Christchurch who are heroes to me. (As you read on I'm sure many of us know similar people.)
One hero is a man who had been ill with a neurodegenerative condition. His testimony was that he had been prayed for many times to be healed. He remained seriously ill. Yet, in his increasingly poor health, he rejoiced that through his illness he had come to know that the love Jesus had for him was far more profound than he ever previously realised. I could hardly have a conversation with him without him rejoicing in the wonder of the cross, God's kindness to him, and the joyous anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face.
A lady I knew as a teenager would repeatedly volunteer that her favourite hymn was I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. I thought this odd given all the amazing hymns she could have chosen until the third verse hit me:
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.
This lady was blind yet her unfailing hope was she would one day see Jesus, who loved her, face to face.
So where am I going with this? We pray. We pray for healing or a miracle or a change in circumstance. We pray for bread. But what if as we pray Jesus wants us to have ‘good things’ that are better than physical bread - an overwhelming sense of his love for us, an unshakeable understanding of his goodness towards us, a profound hope for the future.
Not for one moment do I doubt that God heals today. Not for one moment do I doubt God can change circumstances in an instant. So we pray asking God for what we see as our need. We should be humble enough to ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with us. We should be persistent in prayer. And sometimes God will answer a prayer for bread by giving us bread. But sometimes Jesus will answer our prayer by giving us so much more than we ask, he gives us the ‘good thing’ of himself - and he is the eternally satisfying bread of life.
Recently I was reading Matthew 7: "Which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!". What then are the ‘good things’ Jesus promises?
I have Christian friends outside of Christchurch who are heroes to me. (As you read on I'm sure many of us know similar people.)
One hero is a man who had been ill with a neurodegenerative condition. His testimony was that he had been prayed for many times to be healed. He remained seriously ill. Yet, in his increasingly poor health, he rejoiced that through his illness he had come to know that the love Jesus had for him was far more profound than he ever previously realised. I could hardly have a conversation with him without him rejoicing in the wonder of the cross, God's kindness to him, and the joyous anticipation of seeing Jesus face to face.
A lady I knew as a teenager would repeatedly volunteer that her favourite hymn was I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. I thought this odd given all the amazing hymns she could have chosen until the third verse hit me:
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me.
This lady was blind yet her unfailing hope was she would one day see Jesus, who loved her, face to face.
So where am I going with this? We pray. We pray for healing or a miracle or a change in circumstance. We pray for bread. But what if as we pray Jesus wants us to have ‘good things’ that are better than physical bread - an overwhelming sense of his love for us, an unshakeable understanding of his goodness towards us, a profound hope for the future.
Not for one moment do I doubt that God heals today. Not for one moment do I doubt God can change circumstances in an instant. So we pray asking God for what we see as our need. We should be humble enough to ask our brothers and sisters in Christ to pray with us. We should be persistent in prayer. And sometimes God will answer a prayer for bread by giving us bread. But sometimes Jesus will answer our prayer by giving us so much more than we ask, he gives us the ‘good thing’ of himself - and he is the eternally satisfying bread of life.
Posted in Church Blog
Recent
Archive
2026
January
Are you in Conquerors and Discoverers?IT'S JANUARYWomen's BreakfastEPIC, Teens and Senior TeensNew Song: This is the God we loveBoard Games back a-gameDoctrine of GodTEENS + WEEKEND AWAY = NOT TO BE MISSEDEarly shout out for CAP Money CourseThe Romans at LegacyWhat does it mean to be human?The Debrief: CreatedPrayer Team MeetingThe doctrine of GodWhat is ChurchSuite?Why Christchurch Kids?The Privilege of PrayerBoard and want to play a game?Women's Ministry Side by SideBrickworks closing earlier on a Tuesday
February
350+ daily donations neededSend in your questionsMissed the first session?Every lego helpsPraying over our evangelismMoney Coaching this weekMoving forwardThe Debrief: We Are EmotionalSide by SideThe Way Course returnsChurch Members MeetingWhat to read before the weekendA great knight outCAP needs your help
March
Romans 1:16Have you been baptised?Diving back into JoshuaEPIC: Faith, Fun and FriendshipChurch Members meeting this Wednesday"God's megaphone to rouse a deaf world"The Way Course is not far awayMarch dates for your diaryThe Way Course begins tonightDiving into JoshuaA prayer for mothersLegacy celebrates EasterMy Redeemer LivesFamily LEGO Easter TrailSide by side this SaturdayRejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstancesSend in your questions
April
May
Praying and praising togetherIf you're board this Wednesday?Did you miss an episode?Have you been baptised?Doctrine classes returnEden Gate launching Skills Training CentreWhat happens at EPIC?LEAD information eveningMurder She WroteHow do we practise spiritual gifts?No prayer meeting next weekEver heard of a story sack?Welsh Blood Service needs to fill their booksJune baptismsGame for a board game? Women's Book Study this SaturdayNew summer playlist for kidsGod's communicable perfections
June
Board Games this WednesdayDates for your June diaryBringing our requests before GodRaised to new life in JesusDonations at the doubleC.S Lewis on prayerA testimony from money coachingMeeting Sean EdwardsIs money coaching for me?Loving each other wellWednesday Warm pauses for summerBabies and Toddlers Teams EveningChurch Prayer MeetingDiscoverers Dinner DoThe penultimate sessionTeens take on TredegarA night of competition and strategyWhat do we do when our prayers seem unanswered?