Why Prayer

Dear Victorious,

Why should I keep praying for someone --- when I've prayed and prayed and God has not answered the prayer?

Marcella T. - St. Paul, MN

Dear Marcella,

Colossians 4:2 tells us, "Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Our persistence in prayer is an expression of our faith that God answers our prayers. Faith cannot die if the answers come slowly ... or if they're not the answers we want. (Otherwise it wouldn't be faith!)

You say that God has not answered the prayer. There is much we could say about such a conclusion. There is an eternal truth at work here. It is that God answers prayer. Without exception. So if you think He has not, then you are mistaken. Perhaps God answered the prayer and you've missed His answer. Perhaps you've been praying for the wrong thing. Perhaps God answered the prayer and you don't like His answer. Or perhaps God has not answered the prayer yet.