Group members often confuse unanswered prayer with answered prayer. They believe if God doesn’t answer their prayers in the way they expected them to be answered, and in their timing, that God must not be listening or that He is an uncaring God who can’t be trusted. Thoughts like these climb right into the core of a group member’s heart and wreak havoc on their perspective of God. Ultimately, this affects every aspect of your group member’s spiritual journey.

We need to help our group members understand that: 

1) God is not a genie in a bottle. He is the all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God. He will answer our prayers as they coincide with His will and ways. 

2) God answers prayer in one of three ways… No, Not Now, or Yes.

Not Now... the request is in God's will, but this is not the right time. Continue to be persistent in your prayers, and in God's perfect timing, He will answer as he grows your patience and obedience.

Yes... the request is in God's perfect will, and this is the right time for Him to respond. God answers yes, and you’ll see your request become a reality now.