How might Catholics respond to the problem of unanswered prayers?

Answer 1

Ctholics may respond to unanwered prayers by becoming agnostic (not sure about god) and may believe God does not want to answer their rayers. God does not answer selfish prayers but if it was a good prayer then he would answer it in his own time to fit in with his own prayers and they way he wans to answer the prayer. Catholics may think God will answer the prayers straight away and give them a sign or just simply fix their problems straight away. But that is not how God answers prayers but instead will answer them in his own time the way he wants. An example of a selfish prayer: e.g. praying for wealth or love, this won't be answer by God because it is selfish. But an example of a prayer that will be answered is: e.g. Praying for sick one's.

Summary:

-Selfish Prayers

-Becoming AGNOSTIC

-Not answering prayers the way they would like.

-Year 11 Girl, St.Peters, Southbourne, Jess

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Catholic AnswerThe only way that a Catholic should respond to the problem of "unanswered prayers" is by talking with their spiritual director or confessor and realizing that there are no such things as "unanswered prayers", God always answers prayers. The problem that people have to realize is that He often says "no" as we ask wrongly, or ask for the wrong things. However, when He says "no" He always gives us something better than we asked for. Our job is to align ourselves with His Will. So if we think that God isn't answering our prayers, we have a lot of work to do so that we may recognize His Will, and grow in prayer so that we may conform ourselves to His Will. To think that God is not answering your prayers and so to leave the Church or become agnostic is just compounding the problem.

Answer 2

Your never really sure if they are unanswered they could just be answered in a way you weren't expecting; so it appears as if God ignored you but in reality you just haven't found the answer. But if you really think that your prayer was unanswered I would just keep praying about whatever is bothering you and be patient.

Catholic Answer

As noted above, there really is no such thing as an unanswered prayer, usually the problem is that we have not stopped to listen and understand the answer. God is always there, He loves us more than we will ever fully understand, and He wants the best for us. We are the ones that have to change, God never changes, He is perfect. We are very imperfect, and must grow in our understanding of what He is telling us. Mostly we don't want to do what is good for us, we are like little children telling Daddy what to do, wrong. Catholics respond to "unanswered prayer" by learning to die to self, by going to confession more often, and by praying more fervently, and by learning to listen to God.