Why Prayers Are Answered

Hebrews 5:7
During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

New Living Translation
While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God.

Good News Translation
In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him.

We all pray with a desire and expectation that prayers will be answered. We easily get devastated when prayers are not answered. We get worked up when there is a delay in getting answers for that which we prayed for. Isn’t it good therefore to know why prayers are answered?

If we knew the formula that would lead to answered prayer, we would stick to it, to ensure that all our prayers are answered. Wouldn’t we want that prayer for another job answered? Wouldn’t we want that prayer for a life partner answered? Wouldn’t we want that prayer for success answered? Wouldn’t we want that prayer for good health and recovery answered? We wish to know therefore why prayers are answered.

We also have questions as to why prayers are not answered. Why didn’t God answer that prayer? If therefore we know why prayers are answered, we may figure out why they are not answered.

Our text today tells us that when Jesus was on earth, He prayed. The Bible says Jesus cried loudly while praying. The Bible says Jesus shed tears while praying. Is this why the prayers of Jesus were answered? Should we also cry loudly and shed tears? Why are prayers answered?

Now before we go very far, let us dispense of one item. Jesus didn’t pray loudly with cries and tears where other people will hear Him. Jesus was not trying to impress people with a public prayer life. He was not trying to indirectly show how spiritual He was. The loud cries and shed tears were in private far from any ears and eyes. Prayers of this nature must be very private. Those you live with should never know about such prayers.

Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here WHILE I GO OVER THERE AND PRAY.”

Matthew 26:39
GOING A LITTLE FARTHER, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

Mark 1:35
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, LEFT THE HOUSE and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Luke 6:12
One of those days Jesus WENT TO A MOUNTAINSIDE TO PRAY, and spent the night praying to God.

All these texts show that Jesus gave His critical prayers serious privacy. The loud cry and shedding of tears were not in a public church worship meeting. The loud cry and shedding of tears were not in a family meeting or prayer band or night vigil. The loud cry and shedding of tears were in total privacy that the Holy Spirit revealed to the writer of Hebrews.

Did God answer the prayers of Jesus because He prayed with loud cries and shed tears? No! Loud cries and shedding tears do not trigger answers from God, they only relieve the pressure we experience in life, which is equally important. The Bible tells us in Hebrews 5:7 that, God answered the prayers of Jesus because He had a deep reverence for God!

Jesus prayed while crying loud and shedding tears, but what brought the answer was how He related with God. After crying loud and shedding tears, how do you relate with God? Prayers are answered based on how we relate with God.

Unanswered prayers do not cause us to lose faith in God, because of how we relate with God. Like Job we have a good relationship with God, we remain faithful even if it is God who is killing us, Job 13:15. How we relate with God will make us sacrifice our only beloved son for God just like Abraham tried to. Answers to prayers depend on how we relate with God. If prayers are not answered, our response to them depends on how we relate with God.

Grant us a good relationship with you dear God, may we get answers to our prayers and may we find peace even when answers delay, in Jesus’ name, Amen!

1. Rei Kesis YouTube Channel (subscribe, click on the notification, and share)
2. Rei Kesis books on Amazon (Amazon will sell and deliver anywhere in the world. For those in Kenya you can buy from any ABC close to you. ABC is Adventist Book Center)
3. Rei Kesis daily blog here.