Do we do a disservice when we promote "answered" prayers?

[MarcoPolo]

I often hear Catholics or other Christians trumpeting something like “Praise God, my prayers were heard!” And they will refer to whatever petition for a certain job or problem or dating or school issue or health or whatever, that was resolved as they asked.

But what does this communicate to those who pray just as ardently, year after year, who likewise say Thy will be done, who are not able to say they were granted the petition they requested. And what does this communicate to onlookers who see Christians praising God when they get what they want but say nothing when they “don’t” get what they want.

I have heard people who pray for long periods be told that we should not think of God like an ATM. If this kind of maxim is true, why do we advertise when our prayer is answered the way we wanted?

I would like the perspective of the spirituality connoisseurs here.

 

[christofirst]

I often hear Catholics or other Christians trumpeting something like “Praise God, my prayers were heard!” And they will refer to whatever petition for a certain job or problem or dating or school issue or health or whatever, that was resolved as they asked.

But what does this communicate to those who pray just as ardently, year after year, who likewise say Thy will be done, who are not able to say they were granted the petition they requested. And what does this communicate to onlookers who see Christians praising God when they get what they want but say nothing when they “don’t” get what they want.

I have heard people who pray for long periods be told that we should not think of God like an ATM. If this kind of maxim is true, why do we advertise when our prayer is answered the way we wanted?

I would like the perspective of the spirituality connoisseurs here.

If by connoisseur you mean the spiritual equivalent of hot dogs, I’ll have a go.

We need to be prudent, I think, even in expressing our joy to others over what we see as answered prayers. Correct me if I’m wrong, but what you are suggesting is that we be sensitive to others, especially to those who might not feel as blessed as we do at any given time. I think we should avoid superstition, too, like those prayers “never known to fail.” Rightly understood, no prayer which seeks God’s will before all else ever fails.

 

[Neofight]

All - every single one - prayers are heard and answered!

 

[z_0101]

All - every single one - prayers are heard and answered!

On a plaque in my office:

The Lord God answers all prayers:
YES; Not now; I have something else in mind.

As for OP:
I think that some people really do go over the top with what they think is an answered prayer in the same way that there are both “poor winners” and “poor losers” and become as guilty as the Pharisee on the corner proclaiming all his doings and blessings and shouting to the world… IMHO… better to be the tax collector
(Luke 18:10-13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14"I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.")

Personally, if God answers my prayers, I share it with my wife, maybe a close (very close friend - i.e. sponsor) and my spiritual adviser because I view these answered prayers as personal revelations, not to be paraded up and down the street.

 

[Anglewannabe]

All - every single one - prayers are heard and answered!

And the majority of the time the answer is ‘No’

To the OP, you are spot on. To continually talk about how one’s prayers are answered is a very immature spirituality.

In my younger days, I had a horrible job. I decided for the first time to pray every morning to God to thank him I had a job and asked him to let my boss (who was not nice) be blessed. Within a month, a much better job fell on my lap. I thought I had the magic formula. That prayer no longer brings me a good job. I had to mature in my faith and realize that for whatever reason, at that time, God saw fit to give me a better job and at this time He doesn’t.

A lot of people accuse me of being negative, but I need to be honest at the expense of not being the ‘Poster girl of bringing people to the faith’. Anyone who asks I say ‘Following God is a calling and a choice, it will NOT bring secular blessings but rather many temporal suffereings’

Angie

 

[Neofight]

And the majority of the time the answer is ‘No’

To the OP, you are spot on. To continually talk about how one’s prayers are answered is a very immature spirituality.

Angie

I would contend the answer is always “Yes”, because God always gives and never withholds.

So, in my opinion, He hears all prayers, and Refines them to address our spiritual needs, and not our worldly wants, and then answers everyone of them with the blessings of His grace.

Peace and all good!

 

[Karen107]

I often hear Catholics or other Christians trumpeting something like “Praise God, my prayers were heard!” And they will refer to whatever petition for a certain job or problem or dating or school issue or health or whatever, that was resolved as they asked.

But what does this communicate to those who pray just as ardently, year after year, who likewise say Thy will be done, who are not able to say they were granted the petition they requested. And what does this communicate to onlookers who see Christians praising God when they get what they want but say nothing when they “don’t” get what they want.

I have heard people who pray for long periods be told that we should not think of God like an ATM. If this kind of maxim is true, why do we advertise when our prayer is answered the way we wanted?

I would like the perspective of the spirituality connoisseurs here.

I believe that a person who give thanks to God when things go their way is being a good witness to the faith. If things don’t go their way, I think they still are content to keep praying and that also is bearing witness to their faith. I would hope others would continue as well. I’ve heard people also say, this is my cross to bear, or maybe there is a bigger plan for me, thank God for unanswered prayers. I wouldn’t criticize them, because the scriptures say to give thanks to God in all things.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

What I am concern about is when someone never speaks the name of the Lord, or giving thanks to God for His gifts.

Matthew 10:32 “Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; 33 but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.

 

[ethereality]

You’re right in identifying the problem that reveling in answered prayer can make others feel bad. The solution is to be genuinely humble that one’s petition has been granted, and to keep at the forefront of the discussion what the Bible says about prayer (below), so those whose petitions haven’t yet been granted may understand why, and not be discouraged to continue praying. Then one can “proclaim” what God has done for him without discouraging others.

1. 
   *]Focus on God and ridding yourself of sin, both act and attachment. Sin is separation from God; the less sin, the more you allow God to work in your life and heal you. [Psalm 24, Proverbs 21:13, Matthew 6, John 15, James 4, James 5, 1 John 3, St. Aquinas, St. Augustine]
   *]God may wait for when we are ready to receive the healing. [Mark 9, St. Aquinas]
   *]God may wait for the proper context for a miracle to be properly understood, e.g. a saint’s feast day when requesting intercession. (Cf. Our Lady of Akita, St. John Paul II’s canonization process, or Jesus apparently waiting for Lazarus to die before visiting Mary and Martha to restore him to health.)
   *]Persevere in prayer. You may have to wait a while (though not long according to Jesus), but take comfort in knowing the wait is for the best. [Luke 18]
   *]Believe that you will receive it. [Matthew 9, Matthew 13, Mark 11]
   *]Continue believing that you will receive it even if all physical appearances suggest the contrary.[Matthew 14, Mark 11]
   *]Pray privately, not broadcasting it to all the world in an ostentatious manner. [Matthew 6]
   *]Seek to grow in holiness (“seek the kingdom of God”) and do God’s will first, the healing being of secondary importance. Not only does this have practical consequences (e.g. less anxiety over the timing of the healing), but I think it also is healthier for your relationship with God, recognizing that God is more important than His gifts, and as implied at the beginning, it more quickly opens us to be able to receive them. [Matthew 6]
   *]Have faith, holding to all the articles of the faith. [Romans 8; 1 John 3,5]
   *]Forgive and make amends with others, and receive the Sacrament of Confession regularly. [Mark 11, James 5]
   *]Ask. Don’t feel that something is “too small”, trivial, or difficult for God. [Matthew 7, Luke 15]
   *]Don’t ask for bad things. (Obviously.) [James 4]
   *]Note that prayers for another depend on them as well, regarding all of these points. [Mark 11]
   *]Request the intercession of a venerable or saint. I think it might be better to choose a venerable, since God could use the petition to also glorify someone for the encouragement and benefit of the Church. [James 5]
   *]Pray before the Blessed Sacrament and the tabernacle. Praying in the sacramental presence of Jesus Himself seems both natural and pleasing to the god who made us body-spirit hybrids. [Matthew 8, Luke 13]
   *]Receive the Eucharist as often as possible. If simply touching Jesus’ clothing can result in healing, how much more when we bodily receive the Divine Physician in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity! [Matthew 9, Catholic Answers]
   *]If a terminal illness, consider whether “God is calling home” the one suffering it. [Philippians 1]

 

[Origen52]

The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.

 

[Anglewannabe]

I would contend the answer is always “Yes”, because God always gives and never withholds.

So, in my opinion, He hears all prayers, and **Refines them to address our spiritual needs, **and not our worldly wants, and then answers everyone of them with the blessings of His grace.

Peace and all good!

So in essence when we ask for a worldly want, the answer is ‘No I will give you a spiritual good instead’. I think this is becoming a play on words. To someone who is struggling with prayer, I think it is better to be honest and say ‘God often says ‘no’ when we are asking for a material good’

 

[MarcoPolo]

He hears all prayers, and Refines them to address our spiritual needs, and not our worldly wants, and then answers everyone of them with the blessings of His grace.

For something like praying for the conversion of another soul, this is in full accord with 1 Timothy 4:10 where God is said to will the salvation of all. That is an example of us aligning our will with His. Yet this prayer is often not answered. God’s will in a certain sense, is not always done (cf. 1 Thes. 4:3-8). My point in this particular post is some prayers that don’t get “answered” are not always ones pertaining strictly to “worldly wants.” Even a prayer for a vocation extends beyond a mere worldly want because the sacraments are both visible and invisible, physical and spiritual.

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.*
I asked for health, that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.*
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.*
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.*
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.*
I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.*
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.