Many believers wonder if their prayers truly reach God. Scripture reassures us that God not only hears our prayers but also responds according to His perfect will. Here’s how we can be confident that He listens:
1. God’s Promise to Hear Our Prayers
God Himself has promised to hear His children when they call on Him.
- 1 John 5:14 (NASB) – “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
- Jeremiah 29:12 (NASB) – “Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
- Psalm 34:17 (NASB) – “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and rescues them from all their troubles.”
God’s hearing is not passive—He listens with intent to act according to His divine purpose.
2. Jesus Taught That God Hears Our Prayers
Jesus consistently emphasized that God listens when we pray in faith.
- Matthew 7:7-8 (NASB) – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.”
- John 14:13-14 (NASB) – “Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
Jesus assured us that God is not distant or indifferent—He is attentive and loving.
3. The Holy Spirit Helps Us in Prayer
Even when we don’t know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf.
- Romans 8:26-27 (NASB) – “Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”
This means God not only hears but understands the deepest cries of our hearts, even when words fail us.
4. Prayers of the Righteous Are Effective
The Bible affirms that God responds to the prayers of the righteous.
- James 5:16 (NASB) – “The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.”
- Proverbs 15:29 (NASB) – “The Lord is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
This does not mean we must be perfect for God to hear us, but a sincere heart that seeks Him is never ignored.
5. When Does God Not Hear Prayers?
While God is always aware of our prayers, Scripture warns that certain things can hinder them:
- Unrepented Sin – Isaiah 59:2 (NASB) – “But your wrongdoings have caused a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”
- Selfish Motives – James 4:3 (NASB) – “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures.”
- Unforgiveness – Mark 11:25 (NASB) – “Whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your offenses.”
These verses remind us that prayer is about relationship, not just requests. God desires our hearts to be aligned with His.
6. Faith Assures Us That God Hears
Even if we don’t immediately see answers, we can trust that God is working.
- Hebrews 11:6 (NASB) – “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him.”
- Psalm 145:18-19 (NASB) – “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry for help and save them.”
Our assurance comes from God’s character—He is faithful, loving, and always attentive.
Final Encouragement: Keep Praying!
Even when prayers seem unanswered, God is working behind the scenes. Keep praying, trusting, and seeking His will.
- Luke 18:1 (NASB) – “Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged.”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB) – “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
🔹 God hears. He cares. He responds. Stay steadfast in prayer!
“He Hears”
1
The whisper in the night is not lost,
Nor the tear that falls unseen.
A silent cry rises beyond the sky,
Carried by hands unseen but sure.
2
The weight of sorrow does not silence Him,
Nor does the noise of the world drown out your voice.
He listens beyond time and space,
Hearing even what words cannot express.
3
A prayer spoken in weakness is not ignored,
Nor is the question asked in trembling faith.
The Father bends low to listen,
His presence nearer than breath.
4
Though answers delay, the hearing is swift,
Not bound by haste but by wisdom.
What seems unheard is only unseen,
For in the waiting, He is working.
5
Every plea, every longing, every sigh,
Gathers before Him like incense rising.
No voice is too small, no cry forgotten,
For He is the God who hears.