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
