When Prayer Didn’t Work

 

 

There’ve been times

When prayer didn’t work

And many reasons were given

To address the hurt.

 

The hurt of persons

That anticipated a miracle

Only to be terribly disappointed,

Unrelieved of their trouble.

 

And to add insult to injury

There were many reasons

Not the least of them all being,

“It was not one’s season.”

 

Another excuse was

That it was not God’s will,

Better ensure before you pray

God’s will be fulfilled.

 

Not enough faith

Was another excuse offered,

Too little faith is not enough

Hence, no answer.

 

Sin got in the way

And thus, it caused a block,

Making that one’s prayer effort

An inevitable flop.

 

Not enough prayer

Is one we hear quite often,

When objectives are not met

This reason is given.

 

It goes hand in hand

With too little prayer support,

Too few came out to pray

For God to work.

 

Here is yet another:

He works in mysterious ways,

When prayer didn't work

What else could they say?

 

The timing was wrong

Hence, not the right time.

The water needed to be troubled

Readily comes to mind.

 

God’s working it out

And breakthrough will come,

It’s like, give Him more time

He’ll soon be done.

 

A lesson in patience

Is what I am noticing here,

Yeh, but this is another reason

For unanswered prayer.

 

Or a lesson in trust,

We must learn to trust God,

That’s why prayer didn’t work

When on God you called.

 

Perhaps you did not fast

And this one is biblical,

You may need to pray and fast

Based on the trouble.

 

Wrong motive is another

Maybe you asked amiss,

Or there was double-mindedness;

Add three to the list.

 

A little different from faith

Is that you did not believe,

How can you pray unbelievingly

And expect to receive?

 

Sixteen reasons I’ve heard

For when prayer didn’t work,

Of course, some things we can do

But we’d rather shirk…

 

 

Hiding behind much prayer

Hoping for God to come and do it

But faith without works is dead

Is the biblical remit.

 

There must be a reason

When prayer didn’t work

So, if none of the foregoing apply

Ask a prayer expert.

 

Not powerful enough!

Make that seventeen,

Prayer warriors and intercessors

Must be on the scene.

 

Was there ever a time

When prayer didn’t work?

So, tell me the honest truth,

Did you not feel hurt?

 

Stop with these reasons

For what you can't explain,

At the end of the day God is God

And this He will remain.

 

FOREVER!

 

Stewart Russell © March 10, 2024