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Do you ever wonder whether or not God really hears your prayers? Are you wasting your time praying or does God actually hear every prayer you whisper? Let me share five brief comments I believe to be true regarding prayer.

God hears every cry from his children.

A lifeguard was asked whether or not amidst all of the noise on the beach, he could hear the desperate cry of a child in the surf. He answered, “No matter how great the noise and confusion, I have never had an occasion when I could not distinguish the cry of distress above all the other sounds.”

So too I believe that God, whether or not we understand how, hears each of our cries for help when we speak to him in prayer.

There can be three different answers.

When a child brings a request to a parent, they can usually count on one of three possible replies. The answer may be “yes,” but often for the sake of the child, the loving parent will answer “no.” On the other hand, there may be a timing issue and the parent may choose to not give an answer at that moment.

And so it is with God. When we don’t receive an immediate answer, it may be that God for reasons only he understands, chooses to not give any specific answer or direction at that time. But, it doesn’t mean he won’t in the future.

God sometimes says “no” for our benefit.

Part of my responsibility as a parent has been to tell my children “no” when I believe their request could lead to harm. And so it is that God knows what is best for us and chooses to not always give us what we want. Or as one author wrote:

“He was a Christian, and he prayed.

“He asked for strength to do greater things, but he was given infirmity that he might do better things.

“He asked for riches that he might be happy; he was given poverty that he might be wise.

“He asked for power that he might have the praise of men; he was given weakness that he might feel the need for God.

“He had received nothing that he asked for nor all that he hoped for. His prayer seems unanswered, but he is most blessed.”

Don’t be afraid to ask for great things.

On one occasion a member of Alexander the Great’s court asked him for some financial aid. That great leader told him to go to his treasurer and ask for whatever amount he wanted.

A little later, the treasurer appeared and told Alexander the man had asked for an enormous sum, and that he hesitated to pay out so much.

“Give him what he asks for,” the great conqueror replied. “He has treated me like a king in his asking, and I shall be like a king in my giving.”

Don’t be afraid to pray boldly. God takes delight in doing the “unexplainable” in our lives. It must grieve God at times because of the smallness of our requests.

Don’t worry about pestering God.

It appears that God never tires of our pleading for the cause of others. The Bible makes it clear that God wants to hear from us in prayer. In fact, he commands us to do so. There may be some loved ones for whom you’ve prayed for decades and have not received an answer. Keep on praying.