Why Does Prayer Work For Some and Not Others?

 

     This is one of those questions that keeps coming up in the Christian life. If you’ve ever prayed and felt like nothing happened, while watching someone else pray and get answers almost instantly, you probably know the frustration. I’ve been there myself. Sometimes it feels like God is picking favorites, answering one person while ignoring another. But over time, through reading the Bible, watching others, and walking with God, I’ve come to see that prayer is more layered than it looks on the surface.

     Prayer is not just about asking and getting. It’s about relationship, timing, trust, and sometimes, surrender. Let’s break this down from a very human point of view.

Prayer and the Heart Behind It

     Prayer isn’t magic. It’s not just saying the right words or following a formula. What matters is the heart that is praying. If someone is praying just out of habit, or because they feel they’re supposed to, the words may be right but the heart may be far from God. Jesus warned about that in Matthew 6:7 when He said, “When you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do, for they think they will be heard for their many words.”

     I’ve noticed in my own life that when I pray with a genuine heart, pouring myself out to God honestly, it feels different. There’s peace even before the answer comes. But when I just rush through prayer like a checklist, I don’t sense that same connection. Prayer works when it comes from a place of sincerity and openness before God.

Faith Makes a Difference

     Another thing I’ve learned is that faith is key. Many times we pray, but deep down we don’t really expect anything to happen. It’s like sending a message to someone you’re not sure will read it. But Jesus said in Mark 11:24, “Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

     That doesn’t mean faith is about forcing God to do something. It means trusting that He hears and He will act according to His will. I’ve seen people pray with simple, childlike faith — nothing complicated, just “Lord, I know You can do this” — and God answered in ways that shocked me. At the same time, I’ve prayed with doubt in my heart, and I can see how that weakens my confidence in God’s answer.

     Faith doesn’t guarantee the exact outcome we want, but it makes the difference between praying with hope and praying out of routine.

God’s Will and Timing

     This is probably the hardest part of prayer to accept: sometimes God says “yes,” sometimes “no,” and sometimes “wait.” We like the “yes” answers, but the “wait” and “no” are still answers too.

     Paul prayed three times for God to remove his thorn in the flesh, but God didn’t do it. Instead, He said, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That shows us prayer isn’t always about changing our situation — sometimes it’s about changing us.

     I’ve had moments where I prayed hard for something I thought I needed, and God didn’t give it. Later, I understood why. If He had given me what I wanted, it would have harmed me, or I wouldn’t have been ready for it. In the moment, it felt like silence. But looking back, it was God protecting me.

     When prayer works instantly for someone, it might be because it was already God’s plan and timing. When it feels delayed for another person, God could be using the waiting season to grow patience, faith, or character.

Lifestyle and Obedience

     This one is sensitive, but it’s true. Sometimes prayers are hindered by the way we live. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” That doesn’t mean we have to be perfect for God to hear us, but it does mean that if we’re knowingly living in sin, it creates a barrier.

     Think of it like a relationship with a friend. If I keep hurting someone, ignoring them, or breaking trust, but then I suddenly ask them for a favor, it would feel insincere. Prayer works best when it’s connected to a daily walk with God.

     I’ve seen people pray all night but continue in bitterness or unforgiveness, and then wonder why nothing changes. Sometimes God is saying, “First, let go of that grudge” or “Return to obedience” before He releases the answer.

Persistence in Prayer

     One thing I’ve noticed is that some people pray once and give up, while others keep praying until something breaks. Jesus gave the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1–8 to show us the importance of not giving up in prayer. She kept going to the judge until he finally gave her justice.

     Sometimes, when people say prayer doesn’t work, it’s because they gave up too quickly. Others keep pressing on, even when it feels like nothing is happening. That persistence builds faith and keeps us connected to God until the answer comes.

Motives Matter

     James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Prayer is not about treating God like an ATM. If our prayers are only about selfish gain or material things, we shouldn’t be surprised when they seem unanswered.

     I’ve had to check myself many times: Am I praying for God’s will, or just for my own desires? When prayers line up with God’s kingdom purposes, they carry power.

The Mystery of God’s Ways

     Finally, there’s a side of prayer that we may never fully understand. Why does one person get healed while another remains sick? Why does one person get a breakthrough instantly while another waits for years? Only God knows.

     Prayer works differently for everyone because God deals with us individually. He knows what we need, when we need it, and how best to answer. What looks like “unanswered” prayer may actually be God working behind the scenes in ways we can’t see yet.

     So why does prayer work for some and not for others? From what I’ve experienced, it has less to do with God picking favorites and more to do with the heart, faith, timing, obedience, and God’s bigger plan. Sometimes prayer brings instant miracles. Other times, it builds endurance. And sometimes, it doesn’t change the situation but changes the person praying.

     The truth is, prayer always works — just not always in the way we expect. For some, the answer is immediate. For others, it comes with waiting. And for many, prayer becomes less about getting what we want and more about becoming who God wants us to be.

For more explanation click the link: https://www.seedwordchristian.com/2025/08/prayer-is-key-and-faith-unlocks-door.html