When Prayer Becomes a System: A Sermon Review of “Why God Delays in Answering Our Prayers” (Prayer Series Pt 2)

 

In a previous post, I reflected on a sermon teaching that unintentionally framed prayer as something that produces results when practiced correctly. This second message, “Why God Delays in Answering Our Prayers,” continues that same framework — and unfortunately deepens some of its problems.

Again, the concern here is not sincerity or desire to encourage prayer. Christians should pray. Jesus calls us to pray continually.

But when prayer is explained through a system of spiritual mechanics — reasons, steps, formulas, and techniques for increasing answers — something essential is lost.

And the people most harmed are often the believers trying hardest to follow God faithfully.

This review seeks to examine the teaching biblically and recover a clearer evangelical understanding of prayer rooted in the gospel rather than spiritual performance.

The Stated Question — and the Shift That Follows

The sermon begins with a good and honest question:

If God wants to answer prayer, why are there delays?

Jesus does address perseverance in Luke 18:1:

“Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

But instead of letting the parable define the answer, the sermon introduces a framework of fourteen possible reasons God delays prayer — ranging from character formation to insufficient prayer, hidden sin, or spiritual warfare.

While some of these ideas contain partial truths, presenting them as a diagnostic system fundamentally changes how believers experience prayer.

Prayer quietly becomes a puzzle to solve.

The Problem With Turning Delays Into Explanations

Scripture certainly teaches that God works through timing, growth, and sanctification. However, the Bible is remarkably cautious about explaining why specific prayers are delayed or unanswered.

The sermon moves in the opposite direction by offering numerous speculative causes.

This creates an unintended burden:

When prayers seem delayed, believers begin searching themselves for hidden failures.

• Am I listening enough?

• Is there unconfessed sin?

• Am I praying sufficiently?

• Did I miss God’s instruction?

• Is my surrender incomplete?

Instead of comfort, prayer becomes introspection under pressure.

Yet Scripture repeatedly warns against assuming we know God’s hidden purposes.

Deuteronomy 29:29 reminds us:

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God.”

Not every delay is meant to be interpreted.

Sometimes faith means trusting without explanation.

Luke 18 Is About Trust — Not Diagnosis

The parable of the persistent widow is often misunderstood.

Jesus is not giving categories for why prayers stall. He is contrasting two characters:

• an unjust judge who must be worn down,

• and a righteous God who loves His people.

The point is simple:

If even an unjust judge eventually responds, how much more will God vindicate His children?

The emphasis is encouragement, not analysis.

Jesus ends with a searching question:

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

The issue is not technique.

The issue is perseverance in trust.

When Prayer Becomes Conditional

Throughout the sermon, answers to prayer are closely tied to certain human actions:

• surrendering fully,

• listening for specific instructions,

• doing our “part,”

• increasing prayer requests,

• participating correctly in spiritual processes.

This subtly introduces conditional logic:

If we align ourselves properly, answers increase.

But this risks turning prayer into cooperation that earns outcomes.

Historic evangelical theology has always guarded against this idea.

We cooperate with God in obedience, yes — but obedience is the fruit of grace, not the mechanism that secures answers.

Otherwise, prayer becomes a spiritual transaction.

The Misuse of “Listening Prayer” as Normative Guidance

A significant portion of the sermon teaches that believers must listen for ongoing spoken guidance from the Holy Spirit beyond Scripture in order to receive answers.

Examples from Jesus’ temptation, Paul’s missionary journeys, and personal experiences are used to argue that God continually gives individualized instructions that determine prayer outcomes.

Here careful biblical distinctions are needed.

Evangelical theology affirms:

• The Holy Spirit guides believers.

• God providentially directs circumstances.

• Wisdom grows through prayer and Scripture.

But Scripture also teaches that God’s revealed will is given primarily through His written Word (2 Timothy 3:16–17).

Narrative passages describing unique moments in redemptive history are not automatically prescriptions for everyday Christian decision-making.

When subjective impressions become necessary for effective prayer, believers can become anxious:

“What if I’m not hearing correctly?”

Instead of resting in God’s promises, they begin searching inward for spiritual signals.

The Danger of “Getting More Answers to Prayer”

Near the conclusion, the sermon offers practical steps titled:

“How to get more answers to prayer.”

This language reveals the deeper issue.

Prayer is being framed as something that produces measurable increases when practiced properly.

But nowhere does Jesus teach believers how to maximize answers.

He teaches them how to trust their Father.

The New Testament never presents prayer as a method for increasing outcomes. It presents prayer as dependence upon God regardless of outcomes.

Paul prayed faithfully and suffered deeply.
Early Christians prayed and were martyred.
Faithful prayer has never guaranteed visible success.

And yet Scripture calls all of these lives faithful.

What the Bible Actually Says About Delay

When Scripture speaks of waiting in prayer, the emphasis is not on discovering causes but on cultivating trust.

Waiting teaches:

• reliance instead of control (Psalm 27:14),

• hope instead of certainty (Romans 8:24–25),

• endurance rooted in God’s character.

God’s silence is never abandonment.

But neither is it always a problem to be solved.

Prayer in the Light of the Gospel

The deepest correction comes from the gospel itself.

Christians do not pray in order to secure God’s attention or unlock divine action.

We pray because Christ has already secured our access.

“Through Him we have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18)

Prayer is not leverage.

Prayer is relationship grounded in grace.

The Father is not waiting for perfect surrender, flawless listening, or sufficient effort before responding.

He has already given His Son.

And sometimes His greatest work in prayer is not changing circumstances but forming trust within us as we wait.

A Better Question

Instead of asking:

“Why is God delaying my answer?”

Scripture gently redirects us to ask:

“Will I continue trusting God while I wait?”

Luke 18 does not give believers a system to decode delays.

It gives weary disciples courage to keep coming to their Father.

Prayer Is Faithful Presence, Not Spiritual Mechanics

The danger of systematizing prayer is that believers begin striving instead of resting.

But Jesus invites something simpler and deeper:

Come.
Ask.
Wait.
Trust.

Not because prayer guarantees outcomes — but because the Father Himself is faithful.

This post continues a series examining modern teachings on prayer and how they shape Christian expectations. Future posts will explore additional sermons followed by a biblical reconstruction of what prayer truly is according to Scripture.

Rooted in Jesus Grace,

Mara Wellspring