unanswered prayer
What does the Bible say about unanswered prayer? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
15 passages · most helpful first
3You ask and you do not receive, because you ask badly, so that you may use it toward your own desires.
18If I have seen iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not heed me.
14And this is the confidence which we have toward God: that no matter what we shall request, in accord with his will, he hears us. 15And we know that he hears us, no matter what we request; so we know that we can obtain the things that we request of him.
22And all things whatsoever that you shall ask for in prayer: believing, you shall receive.”
24For this reason, I say to you, all things whatsoever that you ask for when praying: believe that you will receive them, and they will happen for you.
9Whoever turns away his ears from listening to the law: his prayer will be detestable.
7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you may ask for whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.
14And this is the confidence which we have toward God: that no matter what we shall request, in accord with his will, he hears us.
7Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives; and whoever seeks, finds; and to anyone who knocks, it will be opened. 9Or what man is there among you, who, if his son were to ask him for bread, would offer him a stone; 10or if he were to ask him for a fish, would offer him a snake? 11Therefore, if you, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your sons, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him?
31And we know that God does not hear sinners. But if anyone is a worshipper of God and does his will, then he heeds him.
6But he should ask with faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave on the ocean, which is moved about by the wind and carried away;
2But your iniquities have made a division between you and your God, and your sins have concealed his face from you, so that he would not hear.
12For the eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears are with their prayers, but the countenance of the Lord is upon those who do evil.
6Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.
7And lest the greatness of the revelations should extol me, there was given to me a prodding in my flesh: an angel of Satan, who struck me repeatedly. 8Because of this, three times I petitioned the Lord that it might be taken away from me. 9And he said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you. For virtue is perfected in weakness.” And so, willingly shall I glory in my weaknesses, so that the virtue of Christ may live within me.