Questions Copyright 2001 by Kenneth W. Collins. All rights reserved. I think the problem is that most people believe in magic and for them, prayer is just a socially acceptable way of casting spells. In that case, if the things we pray for do not come to pass, the spell didn t work, or, to say it as they do, the prayer wasn t answered. In fact, there is no magic.
All prayers are answered, it s just that some are answered no.
God is omniscient, He knows what we want before we ask, He gives good things before we request them, just as Jesus fed the multitudes who had not asked for food. We do not pray to enlighten God, as if an omniscient God would bask in ignorance without our information, we pray so that we might discern God s wisdom in the way He is provident. Without prayer, God s providence is present, but our spiritual growth is stunted, because we cannot see His providence or conform ourselves to His will. To give an example, a child asks his mother for a cookie and doesn t get one. So his little friend says, You request didn t work.