Pope Francis discussed the difficult moments when prayer seems to go unanswered in his General Audience. He said that “we may even be tempted to stop praying” when we feel God does not hear our prayers.
The Pope said to look to Jesus' example of steadfast prayer to develop “complete trust in the Father's will,” and reminded us that “Evil never has the last word.”
SUMMARY OF THE POPE'S CATECHESIS IN ENGLISH:
'Dear Brothers and Sisters,
In our continuing catechesis on prayer, we now consider those times when our prayers appear to go unanswered.
We think, for example, of the heartfelt prayers we offer for our sick children, or for our friends who experience great pain. In our disappointment, we may feel that God is deaf to our pleas; we may even be tempted to stop praying.
Jesus, our great teacher of prayer, taught us in the Our Father to ask for many things, but above all that God’s will be done. A mature faith trusts in the Lord’s providence, his greater plan for our lives and our world, yet we naturally feel deep disappointment when our petitions seem to go unheard.
Jesus shows us by his own example that God understands our sufferings, yet does not always immediately grant our wishes. In Gethsemane, Jesus offered a prayer that seemed to go unanswered; yet his complete trust in the Father’s will led to our salvation and the glory of the resurrection.
Evil never has the last word. If there are times when we walk in the dark, guided only by the light of faith, may we never abandon our trust in the Father’s will to make all things work together for our ultimate good.
I cordially greet the English-speaking faithful. United in this month of May with Our Blessed Lady, may we grow in the certainty that our heavenly Father always hears our prayers. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of the Lord.
May God bless you!'
