My dad told us multiple times not to run through the family room, but my stepbrother and I proudly honed the skill of rounding various pieces of furniture in one fell swoop without hurting a thing. That is, until the afternoon I accidentally bumped him, sending him across the flat, white-hot surface above our wood stove. His skin sizzled, receiving second-degree burns, and I was distraught by the suffering I’d caused. Our desire to do what we wanted, paired with a lack of trust in our parents’ desire to keep us safe, came to a painful conclusion.
As we’ll see below, determining if prayer has failed begins and ends with trust in our Heavenly Father.
Is There a Bible Verse that Says Prayer Never Fails?
No specific Bible verse says prayer never fails, but many verses speak of the One who hears our prayer, including 1 Peter 3:12a: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.”
1 Thessalonians 5:24 says that the One who called you is faithful and will bring it to pass.
Isaiah 26:3-4 clearly states that when we trust in God and focus on Him, He will give us perfect peace: “Your own strength will fail you, but God will never fail you.”
So, while there isn’t a Bible verse that says prayer never fails, many verses prove our Heavenly Father, who hears and answers our prayers, never fails. And because He never fails, neither does prayer.
“I think Christians fail so often to get answers to their prayers because they do not wait long enough on God. They just drop down and say a few words and then jump up and forget it and expect God to answer them. Such praying always reminds me of the small boy ringing his neighbor’s doorbell, and then running away as fast as he can go.” — Edward McKendree Bounds, Purpose in Prayer
What Do We Assume When We Say Prayer Never Fails?
When we say prayer never fails, many of us hope that God will answer our prayers in a way we expect or can handle—and the quicker, the better. But what about Paul’s repetitive pleas to God to remove the thorn in his flesh? It seemed that God didn’t answer the first, second, or third prayer. However, in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, God tells Paul that His grace is sufficient for His strength is made perfect in weakness.
Paul’s next word was therefore. Because of God’s assurance that his thorn in the flesh had a purpose, Paul responds, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (emphasis added).
Countless Christians, especially those persecuted and on the mission fields across the globe, have been encouraged in their faith because of Paul’s response to what seemed like prayers that failed.
In Romans 1, Paul encounters another unexpected answer to prayer when he plans to visit the Jewish Christians in the Roman Church, asking God to make a way. But God prevented him from traveling to Rome at this point in scripture. An opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ denied by God? Surely, it was a question on Paul’s mind and those in Rome. But Paul didn’t waste time. He thanked God for His work in Rome and continued his calling, trusting God for the outcome.
In Acts 12, we read the account of King Herod arresting believers in the church with the intent to persecute them. James, John’s brother, prayed for deliverance, as did Peter, but Herod put James to death while Peter miraculously escaped prison. While we can’t speculate why one was delivered and the other wasn’t, Peter’s escape reminds today’s believers that God hears our prayers and answers them according to His will, not ours. God alone names it and claims it.
By trusting in God’s seemingly unanswered or unexpected answers to prayers, we cultivate a more profound, experienced faith life that embraces the challenges God brings, confident they are growth opportunities we may not have realized otherwise.
Is Prayer about Seeking Things from God or Seeking His Will?
Throughout the Bible, we learn that our thoughts and actions originate in the heart. Luke 6:45 reminds us that a man speaks out of the abundance of the heart, whether for good or evil. And Proverbs 4:23 tells us to keep our hearts with all vigilance, for from it, the springs of life flow.
With these verses in mind, the question is: Are we seeking things from God in prayer, expecting Him to answer in a way we want, and leaving no room for His will? Or are we seeking God’s will in prayer, confident of His goodness and desire to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)?
Asking God to search our hearts for this answer can change our lives and those God has placed in our sphere of influence. Consider how Paul’s thorn and Peter’s prison escape have impacted lives. As Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, our willingness to say, “Thou will be done,” creates a ripple effect, sometimes throughout generations.
What Do We Do When Prayers Appear to Fail?
When prayers appear to fail, we can choose to respond in ways that please and glorifies God, like:
1. Recommit your trust in God. If your faith is faltering, tell Him. He is already aware of the condition of your heart because He is sovereign, but He longs to hear from and help His children.
2. Assess your deepest desires with God’s help. Is your desire to get something from God or to glorify Him, regardless of His answer to your prayer?
3. Continue to pray, even when it appears nothing is happening. When a humble heart that desires God’s best above its own prays continually, it is not a sign of a lack of faith or manipulating God. It all comes back to the heart.
4. Wait in a God-glorifying manner (Psalm 62:5). Confident that God hears and answers our prayers in a way that is good for us and, ultimately, for those around us, we can access God’s peace that transcends all understanding. A self-relying world cannot comprehend such peace.
5. Memorize Isaiah 55:8-9 and other scripture verses that remind you of God’s greatness, goodness, and grace. When we put verses to memory, we carry them wherever we go. Isaiah 55 is also a comforting verse for those who’ve prayed for long periods for a marriage to heal or for a wayward child to return to the faith.
A Prayer to Remember Prayer Never Fails
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for hearing my prayers and responding to them by Your will, not mine. You alone know the beginning to the end, what lies ahead, and what doesn’t. Only You know how Your answers will affect me now and in the future. But this I know, Lord: With every answer to prayer, You are transforming me into the image of Christ. Whether through a challenge or a blessing, every answer from above is a gift. Help me to steward it well through my thoughts and actions so that my trust in You will point others to the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For Your glory alone, Lord.
Amen.
Photo Credit: © Getty Images/doidam10
This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can't find the words to pray.
Prayers for Healing
Morning Prayers
Prayers for Family
Prayers for Surgery
Prayers for Strength
Night Prayers Before Bed
Prayers for Protection
The Lord's Prayer: Our Father
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