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Why Isn't God Answering Me?
Why isn't God answering my prayers? The answer may be that He is, but we just don't recognize His answers. Perhaps we are unable to hear the still, small voice amid the commotion and distractions of life or are struggling with feelings of anxiety, fear, and doubt. If you have felt out of tune with heavenly communication, you are not alone. Best-selling author and master teacher Gerald N. Lund uses real-life examples and an accessible, conversational style as he offers possible answers to the timeless question, Why isn't God answering me? and provides suggestions for drawing down the powers of heaven in our behalf.
176 pages, Hardcover
Published August 20, 2018
20 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
About the author
Gerald N. Lund
87 books750 followersGerald N. Lund received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in sociology from Brigham Young University. He served for thirty-five years in the Church Educational System, and he served as a member of the Second Quorum of the Seventy from 2002 to 2008. He is a prolific and bestselling author of both fiction and nonfiction and is best known for his historical novels, including The Work and the Glory series, Fire of the Covenant, The Kingdom and the Crown series, and The Undaunted. He and his late wife, Lynn, are the parents of seven children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 18, 2021
Lund's thought-provoking book addresses the following possibilities:
1. We may not be open to answers because we don't have a correct idea of the character and attributes of God - "that he is slow to anger, long-suffering, and of a forgiving disposition." Part of that is having an incorrect idea of our own status before God, resulting in "excessive guilt, unjustified shame, or unwarranted discouragement." Physiological, psychological, or emotional factors can have an outsized impact on us, and be so "noisy" that God's answers don't get through to us.
2. We may be confusing false answers for those that are truly inspired. One source of that confusion is deliberately false messages introduced by the adversary ("You're not perfect, so you are failing, and God couldn't possible love you."). Another source of confusion lies in the fact that our emotions and our spiritual being are closely linked, and the former may be confused for the latter (wanting something so much that our own desires become mistaken for inspired answers).
3. We expect thunder and lightning, when in fact spiritual communication most often comes as a "still, small voice." As noted in D&C, it whispers to us in two ways - in the mind and in the heart. As President Boyd K. Packer once said, "The Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit through the mind more often than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, feelings, through impressions and promptings." The voice of the spirit is often so mild, so unremarkable that we miss it our discount it.
4. Often, hearing God's answers to our prayers is as much a matter of reducing the noise around us and within us as it is of listening more intently. We need to make quiet time to ponder, reflect, and meditate. As Gordon B. Hinckley said, "The world is so noisy. There are voices everywhere trying to influence us. We all need time to think. We need to drown out the clamor and noise and simply be quiet. We need time to ponder and meditate, and to contemplate the deeper things of life. We need time to read and to immerse ourselves in the thoughts of great minds."
5. Sometimes we are so busy - even with good things! - that we don't hear the better things. Distractions are everywhere, and the enemy of God would have us fill out lives with so many "good things" that there remains no room for the better things. Priorities are needed, perhaps especially among the good things to which we commit.
6. Contention, not differing views or thoughtful disagreements, but disagreement plus a wrathful spirit of a quarrelsome method may be why we don't seem to be getting the answers we need. The "spirit of contention" mentioned in the scriptures seems to imply a disposition to be disagreeable. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, and we need to work harder to get there.
7. Our wants may be so strong that they become an obstacle to other possible answers. Many of these wants are rooted in selfishness. It is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something more spiritual. The reverse is also true...it is possible to mistake a true spiritual prompting for an emotional yearning. We feel strongly about all kinds of things that are not necessarily good. My most overpowering need must be to know what God wants.
8. Reverence invites revelation. Any time we dishonor, ridicule, or neglect the sacred, we are being irreverent. Of the three, I suspect that the last is the most common among those who otherwise consider themselves faithful.
9. Inner noise (mentioned above) is common enough that it warrants a couple of chapters. Preferring idle engagements at the expense of things of greater worth, choosing to be overly engaged in good things at the expense of better things, and similar preferences will inevitably impede revelatory experiences.
10. Negativity, pessimism, despair, oh my! These and similar thoughts/feelings are the antithesis of hope and faith. They are not pleasing to God, and offend the Holy Spirit. We are expected to put away fear even in difficult circumstances.
11. Sometimes we try to counsel God (Jacob 4:10). Often, our prayers are about asking for a solution that we have decided we need. Our Heavenly Father becomes little more than a clerk in a department store, a sort of "grandfather in heaven" that exists simply to make us happy.
12. Revelatory experiences should be followed by two things: we should listen to them and act on them. When we don't, we make it just a little harder the next time to hear and act. Over time, not doing one or both of those things can get in the way of further revelation.
13. Oliver Cowdery once asked for the privilege of translating the Book of Mormon. When it didn't work for him, he was told "...you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me" (D&C 9:7). Little in this life happens if all we do is ask and then sit back and wait without taking any action or digging deeper on our own. Later in that same section, we learn that mind and heart are both critical elements in this process.
14. Sometimes the Lord withholds an answer to our prayers to allow space for our own growth and development. In these instances, it is a blessing associated with our own growing spiritual maturity, not a consequence of some failing. Not a punishment; an opportunity.
15. Lastly, sometimes we aren't getting the answers we need because we aren't asking the right questions. In such situations, we may be getting answers, but they don't make sense to us because they aren't really connected to the question we are asking. In that case, and recognizing that God wants us to become, it might be good to ask ourselves, given the answers I'm getting, what questions should I have asked? What question would have given rise to these answers?
1. We may not be open to answers because we don't have a correct idea of the character and attributes of God - "that he is slow to anger, long-suffering, and of a forgiving disposition." Part of that is having an incorrect idea of our own status before God, resulting in "excessive guilt, unjustified shame, or unwarranted discouragement." Physiological, psychological, or emotional factors can have an outsized impact on us, and be so "noisy" that God's answers don't get through to us.
2. We may be confusing false answers for those that are truly inspired. One source of that confusion is deliberately false messages introduced by the adversary ("You're not perfect, so you are failing, and God couldn't possible love you."). Another source of confusion lies in the fact that our emotions and our spiritual being are closely linked, and the former may be confused for the latter (wanting something so much that our own desires become mistaken for inspired answers).
3. We expect thunder and lightning, when in fact spiritual communication most often comes as a "still, small voice." As noted in D&C, it whispers to us in two ways - in the mind and in the heart. As President Boyd K. Packer once said, "The Holy Ghost communicates with the spirit through the mind more often than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, feelings, through impressions and promptings." The voice of the spirit is often so mild, so unremarkable that we miss it our discount it.
4. Often, hearing God's answers to our prayers is as much a matter of reducing the noise around us and within us as it is of listening more intently. We need to make quiet time to ponder, reflect, and meditate. As Gordon B. Hinckley said, "The world is so noisy. There are voices everywhere trying to influence us. We all need time to think. We need to drown out the clamor and noise and simply be quiet. We need time to ponder and meditate, and to contemplate the deeper things of life. We need time to read and to immerse ourselves in the thoughts of great minds."
5. Sometimes we are so busy - even with good things! - that we don't hear the better things. Distractions are everywhere, and the enemy of God would have us fill out lives with so many "good things" that there remains no room for the better things. Priorities are needed, perhaps especially among the good things to which we commit.
6. Contention, not differing views or thoughtful disagreements, but disagreement plus a wrathful spirit of a quarrelsome method may be why we don't seem to be getting the answers we need. The "spirit of contention" mentioned in the scriptures seems to imply a disposition to be disagreeable. It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable, and we need to work harder to get there.
7. Our wants may be so strong that they become an obstacle to other possible answers. Many of these wants are rooted in selfishness. It is possible to mistake an emotional impulse for something more spiritual. The reverse is also true...it is possible to mistake a true spiritual prompting for an emotional yearning. We feel strongly about all kinds of things that are not necessarily good. My most overpowering need must be to know what God wants.
8. Reverence invites revelation. Any time we dishonor, ridicule, or neglect the sacred, we are being irreverent. Of the three, I suspect that the last is the most common among those who otherwise consider themselves faithful.
9. Inner noise (mentioned above) is common enough that it warrants a couple of chapters. Preferring idle engagements at the expense of things of greater worth, choosing to be overly engaged in good things at the expense of better things, and similar preferences will inevitably impede revelatory experiences.
10. Negativity, pessimism, despair, oh my! These and similar thoughts/feelings are the antithesis of hope and faith. They are not pleasing to God, and offend the Holy Spirit. We are expected to put away fear even in difficult circumstances.
11. Sometimes we try to counsel God (Jacob 4:10). Often, our prayers are about asking for a solution that we have decided we need. Our Heavenly Father becomes little more than a clerk in a department store, a sort of "grandfather in heaven" that exists simply to make us happy.
12. Revelatory experiences should be followed by two things: we should listen to them and act on them. When we don't, we make it just a little harder the next time to hear and act. Over time, not doing one or both of those things can get in the way of further revelation.
13. Oliver Cowdery once asked for the privilege of translating the Book of Mormon. When it didn't work for him, he was told "...you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me" (D&C 9:7). Little in this life happens if all we do is ask and then sit back and wait without taking any action or digging deeper on our own. Later in that same section, we learn that mind and heart are both critical elements in this process.
14. Sometimes the Lord withholds an answer to our prayers to allow space for our own growth and development. In these instances, it is a blessing associated with our own growing spiritual maturity, not a consequence of some failing. Not a punishment; an opportunity.
15. Lastly, sometimes we aren't getting the answers we need because we aren't asking the right questions. In such situations, we may be getting answers, but they don't make sense to us because they aren't really connected to the question we are asking. In that case, and recognizing that God wants us to become, it might be good to ask ourselves, given the answers I'm getting, what questions should I have asked? What question would have given rise to these answers?
March 23, 2020
A short and sweet book about some fundamental principles of revelation. It also provided a few questions to ask ourselves to see if there is anything we are doing that might be inhibiting our ability to receive it. It was a good review.
January 4, 2019
The title of this book jumped out at me when I first saw it. For awhile now I've been trying to receive an answer to a very specific and personal problem I've been facing, but to no avail. Now - I've had answers to prayers before that have been so "loud" I might as well have been smacked in the face with the answer. And then other times it feels as if I get nothing. Apparently lots of other people have this same dilemma because I had to wait several months to get this book from the library as so many people had it on hold. Some of the suggestions in the book were very obvious while some of it dug a lot deeper. It had lots of good suggestions. I was a little worried after starting it that the book would be all about what I was doing wrong and things I needed to change and - well - some of it was, but it was also helpful. I took lots of notes and definitely have some things that I'd like to work on. It was a good book to read at the beginning of the year to help me with some resolutions. I liked several of the quotes he used throughout the book as well. If you've been struggling with receiving answers to prayers or feel as though you're not as in tune to The Spirit as you'd like to be, then this was an insightful and helpful book to read.
December 30, 2021
I think this was one of the better faith-based books that presents a really specific topic of discussion and provided a concise but comprehensive exploration of the subject without over dependence on anecdote. I quite enjoyed this and was truly inspired by the theses therein.
After rereading, I’ve soured and some of the approaches and explanations in this book. There’s a lot of inaccurate supposition about the nature of god and revelation and repentance and more here. Lots of the ideas are still good and worth pondering, but some of how the topic is covered is unnecessarily (and I think inaccurately) harsh. So take away what the spirit teaches you but remember there’s lots of opinions in here that may not be quite right.
After rereading, I’ve soured and some of the approaches and explanations in this book. There’s a lot of inaccurate supposition about the nature of god and revelation and repentance and more here. Lots of the ideas are still good and worth pondering, but some of how the topic is covered is unnecessarily (and I think inaccurately) harsh. So take away what the spirit teaches you but remember there’s lots of opinions in here that may not be quite right.
October 8, 2021
Great book. There are many insightful messages to ponder.
May 9, 2019
Maybe I would have given this a better rating if it had been read by the author. Jason Tatum would be great for a fictional story I’m sure, but when it’s a religious book and I hear at the beginning of the audio book that it’s being read by him I cringe. I just don’t feel the spirit of the book when a religious book is read by him.
So one thing talked about in this book that gave me something more to worry about, was the part where he talked about how Satan tries to counterfeit everything, even answers to prayers! After that I felt like there needed to be a big HUGE section on how to know when the answer is from Satan or God. The only help given was just to be continually on guard.
Chapter 10 was my favorite chapter. Here he talks about the SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS and the fact that it was created because of the false and lying spirit that was creeping into the church because of members former beliefs and practices that they were bringing in. This school would teach the leadership so they could all become grounded to true doctrine. D&C 88:137 talked of how each of us can become tabernacles for the Holy Spirit to reside. Verse 124 says three things we can do— that is, CEASE TO BE IDLE.—Coming from the old English word idel, meaning empty, void, vain, useless, worthless. Another words the Lord condemns us using major blocks of time for things that have no real value.
Another way is CEASE TO BE UNCLEAN. Be morally clean, yes, but also as the temple is a house of order, clean, we also need to be clean and live in clean spaces. The last way is CEASE TO FIND FAULT WITH ONE ANOTHER. It’s not just seeing the fault but the act of looking for it, finding it. It’s a habitual trait, it’s the way we are. If we have that trait we need to work to change it.
So one thing talked about in this book that gave me something more to worry about, was the part where he talked about how Satan tries to counterfeit everything, even answers to prayers! After that I felt like there needed to be a big HUGE section on how to know when the answer is from Satan or God. The only help given was just to be continually on guard.
Chapter 10 was my favorite chapter. Here he talks about the SCHOOL OF THE PROPHETS and the fact that it was created because of the false and lying spirit that was creeping into the church because of members former beliefs and practices that they were bringing in. This school would teach the leadership so they could all become grounded to true doctrine. D&C 88:137 talked of how each of us can become tabernacles for the Holy Spirit to reside. Verse 124 says three things we can do— that is, CEASE TO BE IDLE.—Coming from the old English word idel, meaning empty, void, vain, useless, worthless. Another words the Lord condemns us using major blocks of time for things that have no real value.
Another way is CEASE TO BE UNCLEAN. Be morally clean, yes, but also as the temple is a house of order, clean, we also need to be clean and live in clean spaces. The last way is CEASE TO FIND FAULT WITH ONE ANOTHER. It’s not just seeing the fault but the act of looking for it, finding it. It’s a habitual trait, it’s the way we are. If we have that trait we need to work to change it.
July 4, 2019
My stake president has three books displayed in his office: Daughters in My Kingdom, The Infinite Atonement, and this book. I'd read the other two, but not this one. I figured if it is so highly recommended and used by a leader I respect, then I really should read it even though I have very rarely wondered why about the times when I haven't felt like my prayers are answered. I can't think of a time when I haven't known the cause of blocked personal revelation. Even so, I don't mind being reminded of things that are true. I also hoped it might help me in my interactions with others who might not feel their prayers are being heard or answered.
I checked out both the CD version and the hardback from the library. My husband and I started out listening to the CDs. Bad idea. The reader sounds incredibly condescending. Blah. My husband quickly lost interest. I was willing to put up with it because it's a religious book and I'm used to putting up with preachy-sounding people. I was asking for this preaching after all. I persisted and read the hardback. It was worth it.
The book is good. It answers the question the title poses in a bunch of ways. He quotes prophets, general authorities, and scriptures. He gives illustrative examples. It's a good reminder of how easy it is to block ourselves from getting answers. It's explains the natural consequences that can happen when we do and don't do certain things that keep us from receiving personal revelation.
It's not meant to be comprehensive in its answers. There are potentially helpful ideas and reminders here. I'd recommend this book just because it is a collection of helpful answers to the question. It's also a reminder to keep living the commandments and lifestyle that makes it more possible to receive guidance and answers to our prayers.
I checked out both the CD version and the hardback from the library. My husband and I started out listening to the CDs. Bad idea. The reader sounds incredibly condescending. Blah. My husband quickly lost interest. I was willing to put up with it because it's a religious book and I'm used to putting up with preachy-sounding people. I was asking for this preaching after all. I persisted and read the hardback. It was worth it.
The book is good. It answers the question the title poses in a bunch of ways. He quotes prophets, general authorities, and scriptures. He gives illustrative examples. It's a good reminder of how easy it is to block ourselves from getting answers. It's explains the natural consequences that can happen when we do and don't do certain things that keep us from receiving personal revelation.
It's not meant to be comprehensive in its answers. There are potentially helpful ideas and reminders here. I'd recommend this book just because it is a collection of helpful answers to the question. It's also a reminder to keep living the commandments and lifestyle that makes it more possible to receive guidance and answers to our prayers.
September 26, 2018
The message of this book is highly relevant in our noisy and short-focused world. As is mentioned in other reviews, I found the most value in the final 2-3 chapters of this book acting as commentary on key sections in the Doctrine and Covenants and it’s teachings on revelation. The previous chapters were redundant in places. It is stated that the book is not a treatise on all sin types. But, I found it to be the case as sin and types of sin were mentioned often. This is okay in the fact that the biggest enemy to revelation is sin-especially of a moral nature; however, we all know that and a message centered toward repentance (which invites revelation) could prove more helpful. Still good enough to read and consider. I’d point someone toward the scriptures before I would this book, though.
May 22, 2021
An excellent book! Elder Lund looks at this dilemma from all angles. he shares both personal stories and those of people he has picked-up along the way plus scriptural references.
What I got from the book is that very often God wants us to figure things out for ourselves. After all that's why we were sent to earth, to learn to make wise and righteous devisions on our own. The other reason we may not be getting answers is because we are asking the wrong question. This is a book I will no doubt refer to again and again, a great read cover to cover but also a must reference guide in your library.
What I got from the book is that very often God wants us to figure things out for ourselves. After all that's why we were sent to earth, to learn to make wise and righteous devisions on our own. The other reason we may not be getting answers is because we are asking the wrong question. This is a book I will no doubt refer to again and again, a great read cover to cover but also a must reference guide in your library.
January 15, 2019
As with all of Elder Lund's gospel centered books, this new entry is a welcome addition. In his signature, straight forward style, he tackles a question that every human being has asked or thought to themselves at least once. "Why isn't God answering me?"
As Elder Lund explains, it is usually on us that we either are doing something to not receive answers or we just aren't listening as intently as we should.
Very readable and full of timely scriptural references, this is a book to ponder more than once.
As Elder Lund explains, it is usually on us that we either are doing something to not receive answers or we just aren't listening as intently as we should.
Very readable and full of timely scriptural references, this is a book to ponder more than once.
March 19, 2019
This book was a recommendation and I'm so grateful. It was an enlightening read about prayer, revelation, and seeking God's will. Although the premise is unanswered prayers, the book could be a strength to anyone looking to better understand prayer and seeking answers. I found the chapters focused on sections of the scriptures particularly helpful and gave greater understanding to the scriptures we are so familiar with.
The content is very approachable and Lund gives specific examples of difficulties that allow the reader to better relate to the subject. Great read.
The content is very approachable and Lund gives specific examples of difficulties that allow the reader to better relate to the subject. Great read.
June 14, 2019
Some thoughts that really hit home...Faith replaces fear. The lord is at the helm. There’s no need to fear. Fear and discouragement can keep us from getting inspiration.
The most serious sin you can commit is the one that would keep YOU out of the celestial kingdom.
Reverence invites more revelation.
3 things that will drive away the spirit.
1. Cease to be idle. Spending time that doesn’t benefit you or someone. Certainly good to rest and meditate.
2. Cease to be unclean (temporal clutter, etc. )
3. Cease to judge others.
The most serious sin you can commit is the one that would keep YOU out of the celestial kingdom.
Reverence invites more revelation.
3 things that will drive away the spirit.
1. Cease to be idle. Spending time that doesn’t benefit you or someone. Certainly good to rest and meditate.
2. Cease to be unclean (temporal clutter, etc. )
3. Cease to judge others.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2019
This book made many good points. Turns out, there are a multitude of things we're doing or not doing that keep us from receiving answers to our prayers. This books points out the many ways that inner noise, outer noise and distractions are hindering our ability to hear and recognize God's answers. In the end I wondered how I will ever hear and recognize answers when it seems so easy to miss the "still, small voice." This books teaches how to hopefully overcome the "noise" and distractions and receive the answers we seek.
November 14, 2018
At first, I didn't find as much insight in this book as I had hoped. But I found a lot of cause for introspection by the end. It goes well with Hearing the Voice of the Lord and Divine Signatures. There is some overlap in the material, and some of the stories and quotations are very familiar. I really like the format of all three books and think this one will help many of us who struggle with receiving answers to prayer.
August 9, 2019
Fantastic book!!!!! Every chapter had something for me, something I've pondered on or questioned in my life with answers and usable ideas to deepen to closeness with the Spirit. Recently after finishing it I had a big decision to make and I was so thankful for the knowledge I had received from this book that helped me discern between my emotions and the holy ghost. I will definitely be listening to this book again!
June 27, 2020
This book is excellent. It gets right to the heart of the matter and provides essential ways to navigate the perplexing situation when you don't feel you are receiving answers to prayer. It outlines potential roadblocks and keys to overcome those obstacles. It ends with helpful tutorials and notes accessible tools to aid any person. Brief and impactful. A good resource for your library that you can refer back to time and time again.
March 17, 2019
He didn't present any new information in this book, but I loved the way he presented such practical solutions for learning to better receive personal revelation. I especially loved the chapters on inner and outer noise. While the ideas weren't knew, some of his applications were, and I appreciated that fresh outlook on how I can change my communication with God.
October 18, 2019
I thought this was very insightful. It had a lot of quotes from prophets and apostles, as well as scripture verses. It gives you a lot to think about regarding why you may feel like you are not getting answers to your prayers. Getting answers takes effort on our part, and Gerald Lund gives great insight as to why we may not be feeling in tune with receiving those answers.
September 17, 2018
I'm sure that we, have found ourselves, asking the question, Why Isn't God Answering me? Gerald Lund presents several reasons why we are not receiving answers to our prayers. Some reasons are more obvious than others. There were some chapters that really struck a chord with me.
September 26, 2018
I loved it! Excellent book! To me this book could help with more than just why prayers aren't being answered. The principles in this book can and should be applied in all our lives. Read and follow and you will be guided!!!
February 2, 2019
As I try to improve my relationship with God, I want to improve my prayers. Gerald Lund gave some great insights on focusing our prayers to receive personal revelation. This is really needed in this day of confusion and deceit.
March 15, 2019
Really very insightful and the last chapter was a nice reminder that I don't need everything to happen perfectly in my life. I wasn't a fan of the formatting of the chapters. It made it hard to read. Otherwise a very good book.
August 18, 2023
This book has short and simple sections on reasons you might not be receiving personal revelation. It's full of scriptures and quotes from prophets and leaders to back up the author's claims. I've read or heard a lot of it before, but it's nice to have it all in one spot.
August 29, 2018
The last chapter presents some really thoughtful work. The preceding chapters led up to that fairly well but, I felt, that it had much more potential.
October 5, 2018
I loved reading this book. It had such great insight & important teachings in it. I highly recommend it to everyone.
October 12, 2018
Great help to me personally. Wonderful examples and good explanations. More details later. I love Brother Lund’s writing!
May 2, 2019
Help for getting better at prayer and revelation. Helps you look at things that might be blocking your ability to discern God's voice.
July 25, 2019
Great thoughts and reminders.
November 8, 2019
I've loved the three Lund books about the spirit. They are very practical and strike me as true. Especially since I used to be a bishop and a lot of people came not getting answers to prayer.
June 29, 2020
Another one of T's books that she didn't get to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews