Is God Deaf?

Have you ever thought that God is not hearing your prayers, maybe God is hard of hearing or deaf even? I know there have been times that I have prayed for something so hard, so fervently and not received the answer to the prayer that I am seeking, that I have begun to think maybe God wasn't hearing me. I think the answer to my question is actually quite obvious. The answer is that I am searching and seeking for God to answer my prayer the way I think it should be answered. This leads me to ask this question, does God hear every prayer? 

John 9:31 ESV We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 

John says that God does not listen to the prayers of sinners. The only prayer that God hears from a sinner is the prayer for salvation. He listens to those who have placed their faith in Him and do his will. For those of us that have placed our faith in God not every prayer is answered. I believe that because I have placed my faith in God, He hears all my prayers, but He only answers those prayers that aligned with his will. So if I ask God to help me win the lottery He is not going to answer that prayer because it obviously is not aligned with his will, no matter how much I may tell Him that I am going to give back to my church. 

 1 John 5: 14-15 ESV And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. 

I say all this to bring you back to this point, God is not deaf, He hears my prayers He just doesn't always answer them the way I expect. I have learned in my life that If I am asking God to move a mountain, I had better be ready to wake up next a shovel! Here are some of the ways God may answer the prayers of believers. First “No I love you to much!” The Lord of the universe isn't under obligation to say yes to every prayer. That's a good thing, considering some of the things we request! Next, “Yes, but you will have to wait.” Immediate answers to prayers is something everyone wants. You want them. I want them. But God simply does not always work that way. We must be patient, unfortunately patients is not one of my greatest character traits. Another way God my answer your prayer is, “Yes but not the way you expected.” The perfect example of this may be Joni Eareckson Tada. At the time of her diving accident, Joni likely thought it was unfair that God would leave her in that state for good. But it has turned out for her good and God's Glory. Finally, God my answer your prayer by saying, “Yes, I though you would never ask!” Many people think prayer is complicated. Actually, the simplest prayer can bring you the miracle you need, when you need it! 

James 5:16 ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. 

The most difficult way God may answer your prayer is by saying NO. This is the most disappointing of all is when God answers prayer with a definite, no. When all other answers are exhausted and his obvious response is no, then we need to humbly accept it and move on. These are just a few ways the omnipotent God may answer your prayers. So God is not deaf, but there are some things that God will never do no matter how hard we pray. They are simply not in his will or plan.