Why are many prayers unanswered?

It is difficult when God seems to ignore our prayers. But the truth is that he does actually hear and answer all of our prayers. His answer just isn't always the one we want.

Sometimes it seems like God does not respond at all or is not even present. This is referred to as spiritual desolation or dryness, and it can be a normal part of the experience of growing closer to God. Many great saints experienced this for significant portions of their lives. The  Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses dryness in prayer in paragraph 2731.

Sometimes God says "No". We don't always know why, but "my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, my thoughts higher than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9). Sometimes we ask God for something that seems good at the time, but we do not receive it. We may later come to understand why this was better for us, but we may also never understand until we meet God face to face in heaven.

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