<p></p><style>

</style><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 8pt;">Sometimes prayer feels like an exercise in futility. Like I'm just talking to myself. As if it's nothing more than wishful thinking — or a ritual to manipulate God — or a way to bring about good luck.</p><p>And when prayer requests go unanswered, that feeling gets worse. I find myself wondering why God isn't responding. After all, Jesus promised: "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (Mark 11:24, ESV)</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="72cc415f-2515-455e-a3e7-e0b42b7a4bf9" data-toc-id="72cc415f-2515-455e-a3e7-e0b42b7a4bf9" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>The Uncomfortable Truth About Unanswered Prayer</strong></span></h2><p>The prayer-is-futile mindset isn't a comfortable place to be. I don't like it. I want to be close to God. And I want my prayers to be powerful. So I have to ask myself: what's the solution?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="e8ec78c5-f98e-497d-8c04-4599671570df" data-toc-id="e8ec78c5-f98e-497d-8c04-4599671570df" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Understanding the True Purpose of Prayer</strong></span></h2><p>The starting point is understanding what prayer is actually for. Richard Foster writes: "The primary purpose of prayer is to bring us into such a life of communion with the Father that, by the power of the Spirit, we are increasingly conformed to the image of the Son." (Foster, 1992, p. 57)</p><p>I like that. It's hopeful. When I view prayer from that perspective, I realize that unanswered prayer isn't a dead end — it's an opportunity to grow spiritually.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="85356cae-41ca-42ef-b763-51605a8604aa" data-toc-id="85356cae-41ca-42ef-b763-51605a8604aa" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Seeing Reality from God's Point of View</strong></span></h2><p>To make the most of that opportunity, I remind myself of what prayer truly is. Phillip Yancey writes: "Prayer is the act of seeing reality from God's point of view." (Yancey, 2002, p. 29)</p><p>The apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 2:11 that "no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God." (NIV) And then in verse 16, he tells us we have the mind of Christ. Unanswered prayer invites us to tap into that mind. The Holy Spirit shapes our thinking. When a prayer goes unanswered, the question to ask is: How is God viewing this situation? What is He teaching me?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="d2fc45a7-07b7-4e18-89c1-c7c30e8780aa" data-toc-id="d2fc45a7-07b7-4e18-89c1-c7c30e8780aa" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>The Transformation That Changes Everything</strong></span></h2><p>When I adopt that way of thinking, prayer is transformed from an exercise in futility into an occasion for spiritual growth. And I become more like Jesus.</p><p>That shift in thinking sounds simple. But in my experience, it rarely is. I have found that I can zero in on where my mind needs to be renewed by asking myself nine powerful questions. In the next two posts, I'll share each of those questions — and what they've taught me about prayer, growth, and the ways God works in the waiting.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h2 id="19ccfc19-a511-4ff4-b557-1a0d8e55a713" data-toc-id="19ccfc19-a511-4ff4-b557-1a0d8e55a713" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>References</strong></span></h2><p><em>Foster, R. (1992). Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home. Zondervan, p. 57.</em></p><p><em>Yancey, P. (2002). Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? Zondervan, p. 29.</em></p><p><em>Note: Despite some personal controversies, Yancey's books remain spiritually rich.</em></p><div style="text-align: center;"><hr></div><h2 id="bc626226-8bc3-419b-bf05-d8f5cdbb048f" data-toc-id="bc626226-8bc3-419b-bf05-d8f5cdbb048f" style="text-align: left; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.2;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><strong>Did you find this helpful? Would you like more — but not too much more?</strong></span></h2><p>Once every two weeks, I send a short, practical article focused on living a less stressful, more abundant life — helping you maintain life balance and grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and socially over time.</p><p>You can subscribe by <a target="_blank" href="https://www.hpaulstanleycoaching.com/stress-relief---life-balance-news-tips-opt-in/"><strong>clicking here</strong></a>.</p>

When prayer feels pointless, it may be God's greatest classroom. Discover how unanswered prayer becomes a catalyst for spiritual growth and thinking like Jesus.

When Prayer Feels Pointless: How Unanswered Prayer Can Become Your Greatest Spiritual Teacher

The Uncomfortable Truth About Unanswered Prayer

The Transformation That Changes Everything

Did you find this helpful? Would you like more — but not too much more?

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When Prayer Feels Pointless: How Unanswered Prayer Can Become Your Greatest Spiritual Teacher

When Prayer Feels Pointless: How Unanswered Prayer Can Become Your Greatest Spiritual Teacher

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