Psalm 77:10-11
And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old.
David starts this psalm by saying that he cried unto the LORD in prayer, and he even acknowledged that the LORD heard his prayer. However, in verse 2 he says, In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not…. Notice, though the LORD heard his prayer, the problems ceased not. In other words, though he prayed, God did not answer. The great psalmist prayed and God did not immediately answer his prayer; in fact, the problems that he prayed for ceased not.
Every believer will go through times when God doesn't seem to answer their prayers. The fact that God has not answered your prayer does not mean that He did not hear your prayer. God chose not to answer your prayer for a specific reason that sometimes we cannot understand. God always has a good purpose for why He chooses not to answer our requests. When God does not answer our prayer, He has a greater purpose that, at the moment, we cannot see or understand. In times when God chooses not to answer our prayer, David did several things that will help us not to despair if followed.
First, remember the years that God has shown His power. Verses 10 and 11 say, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. One reason you go back to history to see the works of old is to be reminded that God didn't always immediately answer the prayers of those in the past. Israel waited four hundred years for God to answer their prayer for deliverance. Elijah prayed seven times before God finally answered his prayer. Hannah prayed many times for a son before God finally answered her prayer. Joseph cried to God in slavery and in prison for thirteen years before God finally answered his prayer. When you look at the wonders of old, you will often see that those miracles took time before God answered your prayer.
Second, never stop talking about the works of God. David said in verse 12 that he would meditate and talk about the works of God. Soul winning is one of the best answers when not getting an answer from God in prayer. Soul winning is the heart of God, and you will find that God is more likely to answer your prayer if you continue to soul win despite your prayers not being answered.
Third, never doubt the power of God and step out by faith to do something mighty. In verses 13-20, you will find that David is challenged to do something that requires God’s power. Faith living is one of the quickest ways to get an answer from God because He always honors faith.
However, the great key to what you should do when God does not answer is found in four words, This is my infirmity. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Sometimes, God does not answer our prayer to bring us to our weakness so that His power may rest upon us when we accept the sufficiency of His grace. It is in our infirmity that God’s power is made perfect. When you rest in God’s grace and continue to do what needs God’s power is when you will find the answer to your request.