Have you ever wondered whether God hears you when you pray? If so, you are not alone. Many have prayed to God about certain problems, yet the problems remain. Does that mean that God ignores our prayers? No! The Bible assures us that God listens to us when we pray to him in the proper way.
Some people pray because they say it makes them feel better, even though they do not believe anyone is really listening. But prayer is more than a mere therapeutic exercise to help us get through our problems. The Bible assures us that “ God is near to all those calling on him, to all who call on him in truth. . . . He hears their cry for help.”—Psalm 145:18, 19.
We can be certain, therefore, that God hears the prayers of his worshippers. Lovingly he says: “You will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.”—Jeremiah 29:12.
Why does God want us to pray to him? Consider: What parent would not want his young child to say “Can you help me, Dad”? Of course, a father may already know what his child needs or feels, but when he hears those words, it shows him that his child trusts him and is close to him. Similarly, when we pray to God, we show him that we trust in him and want to be close to him.—Proverbs 15:8; James 4:8.
God wants us to pray to him because he loves and cares for us. He is fully aware of our concerns and anxieties, and he wants to help us.
Throughout his life, King David prayed to God for help and told Him his thoughts and feelings. (Psalm 23:1-6) How did God feel about David? God loved David and listened to his many prayers. (Acts 13:22) Likewise, God listens to our prayers because he cares for us.
“During my cancer treatment, I often felt a sense of dread,” Pamela explained. “But when I prayed to God, a feeling of calm came over me and I could think clearly. I still suffer from chronic pain, yet prayer helps me to maintain a positive outlook. When people ask me how I feel, I say, ‘I don’t feel well, but I am in good spirits!’”
Of course, we do not have to wait until a life-threatening crisis comes on us before we pray. All of us face challenges, large and small, and we often feel we need help to deal with them.
The Bible says: “Throw your burden on God, and he will sustain you. Never will he allow the righteous one to fall.” (Psalm 55:22) What a comforting thought that is! So how can prayer help you? When you pray to God in the proper way, he will give you what you need to deal with your challenges.