Unanswered Prayer: When Unanswered Prayer Happens How Do We Know That Does God Answer Prayers?

On April 6, 2003 my wife lay upon her deathbed as I tearfully watched her life come to an end. It had been 2 long years of fighting against the deadly disease of breast cancer that brought us to this day.

There had been some victories.

And there had been some defeats.

In the wake of these events many have asked me, "does God answer prayers"? They point to this major unanswered prayer in my life to prove their point.

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When I respond by telling them that God does indeed answer prayer they look at me like I must have lost my mind. How can I possibly believe in a God that answers prayer when He clearly did not answer my own prayer?

*** Her Prayer Answered ***
During the time I was walking through the valley of the shadow of death I was 100% committed to taking my life if she died. Talking about that rightness or wrongness of this attitude is pointless; the fact that this was the case is what matters here.

It's also important to know that she was aware of this attitude of mine. Thus she was not as concerned with dieing as she was with me surviving.

Had a pastor who understands the spirits not arrived right about the time of her death I would have been in a very serious position. Over her sleeping body we had a very major dialog where I ended by promising that I would not take my life, which I have obviously kept.

*** My Prayer Answered ***
Many would say that God did not answer my prayers. We had attended healing seminars as well as having hands laid on her yet here we were. Was God ignoring my prayers?

No.

Revelation 2:11
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death.

Revelation 20:14
Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

You see. The first death is inevitable minus the 2nd coming of Christ. While I miss my wife and wish she had not died, the first death will happen to us all. It's the second death that we need to avoid, even though very few teach about this concept.

My prayers will be answered, just not on my timetable.

Therefore if you were to ask me – "Does God answer prayers"?

I would have to answer absolutely. God is not a genii in a magic lamp that is ready to fulfill my every request. Thus, in the wake of unanswered prayer there will be answers to be found. Further, "no" is much an answer as "yes".