Introduction

What if prayer isn't just about getting answers? Mike and Kevin take on one of the most raw, painful, and universal questions in the life of faith: why pray when it doesn’t seem to change anything? In this vulnerable episode, they dive deep into an honest question from a listener experiencing unimaginable grief and crisis of faith following the sudden death of his mother and a devastating cancer diagnosis for his father. Drawing from scripture, theology, personal experience, and the teachings of Dallas Willard, the conversation explores the nature of prayer, suffering, and trust in a God whose ways are often mysterious—but never distant.

Key Takeaways: • Prayer as Participation, Not Transaction – Understanding prayer as part of our vocation to co-rule and create with God, not just a way to get our requests answered. • Training for Reigning – How spiritual disciplines including prayer shape us for God’s future kingdom and teach us to be trustworthy with power. • Does Prayer Really Change Things? – Wrestling with what the Bible means when it says things like “you have not because you ask not,” and what that implies about God’s interaction with our prayers. • The Mystery of Unanswered Prayer – Confronting the painful, disorienting reality when the faithful suffer or prayers seem ignored—and why simplistic answers (e.g. lack of faith or “God’s plan”) fall flat. • Lament as Faith – How wrestling with God and staying in relationship—even in doubt—is itself a form of deep trust.

Resources Mentioned: • James 5:16 – "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." • Dallas Willard – Writings on spiritual disciplines and the kingdom of God • Revelation 21–22 – A vision of the restored vocation of humanity in God's future kingdom • The Book of Job – A profound reflection on undeserved suffering and unsatisfying answers • Daniel 10 – A mysterious glimpse into spiritual warfare and delayed answers to prayer • Previous Voxology Episodes on Suffering, Hell, and God’s Will – VoxologyPodcast.com

Join the conversation, wrestle with the hard questions, and rediscover the purpose of prayer not as a means to an end—but as a pathway to deep relationship, trust, and spiritual formation.

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Music by Timothy John Stafford Instagram & Twitter: @GoneTimothy



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Music in this episode by Timothy John Stafford

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