With every prayer that we make to God, there is a desire behind that prayer. We may pray for a million dollars, but the desire behind that prayer might be to have some financial security. God may not give us a million dollars, but He may give us financial security. So, He has not granted the specific request of this prayer, but He has granted us the desire behind it.

Let’s use the example of, you have met this person that you are in love with, and you think they are wonderful, and you pray to God that you will marry this person.

God’s 4 Answers to Prayer

Specific Request; the Desire

God’s Answer

God answers the specific request that we make and the desire behind the request.

Your prayer is to marry a particular person, but the desire behind that request is to marry someone that you are in love with, and will continue to be in love with. So God grants the request as well as the motivation or desire behind the request. This does turn out to be your right person that God designed for you.

The prayer is answered, but the desire behind the prayer is not.

God lets you marry that doll, but she turns out to be a horrid person who looked really hot to you at one time, and now, not so much. You have to deal day in and day out with her soul, and you do not find that to be particularly scintillating.

God does not answer your specific petition, but He answers the desire behind that petition.

You do not marry that specific person, but you do marry someone who is far more suitable for you—someone for whom you continue to have an abiding love for.

God says not to the petition and to the desire behind the petition.

You do not marry that particular person, and, whether you marry or not, the end result is, you do not spend your life with a partner whom you are in love with.

Now, I did leave two factors out of this equation: your volition and the volition of the person that you are in love with. However, I am simply presenting the general principle. In most cases of prayer, the volition of others is involved and God does not reach into our souls and change our volition.

This is how God answers all prayers. There are 4 options. When we pray, always recall God’s promise from Rom. 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose (WEB). This does not mean that your life is going to be great. Your life will be taken care of by God if you love Him. There is only one way to love God, and that is through Bible doctrine. You have to get to know God; you must desire to know Him.