It can get pretty frustrating for a prayer to remain unanswered, but Pastor Rick Warren from Saddleback Church believes Christians should never give up hope that God would respond to them no matter how long the delay might be.
Warren shared in an article for Charisma News that there are four major reasons why Christians should not stop praying even though God has chosen not to respond to their prayers yet.
First, he revealed that persistent prayer focuses people's attention.
"When you pray a prayer request over and over, it's not to remind God. He doesn't need to be reminded," he explained. "It's to remind yourself who is the source of your answer and all your needs."
Warren said if every prayer request is instantly answered, then prayer might become a weapon of destruction. At the same time, people would not think about God because He merely serves as one's vending machine. "If every time you prayed, you instantly got results, all you'd think about is the blessing. God wants you to think about the blesser," he said.
Next, persistent prayer clarifies one's request. When God delays His answer, Warren said Christians would be given the opportunity to reflect on their prayers and refine them. "It's not that God doesn't want to answer your prayers. He does. It's just that He wants you to be certain about what you really want," said Warren.
Next, persistent prayer tests Christians' true faith. Those who throw in the towel whenever their prayers remain unanswered only show weak and shallow faith, but those who keep praying no matter what the circumstance might be show true spiritual maturity.
Lastly, Warren said persistent prayer prepares people's hearts for the answer. "When you make a request of God, He almost always wants to answer in a bigger and better way than you've prayed. Sometimes He denies your prayer requests because you're thinking and asking too small. He wants to give you something bigger and better," he said.
When God delays His answer, it only means He wants His children to grow and prepare for His bigger and better answer.
