the unanswered prayer

There are certainly many people who expect unmistakable signs from God in order to become believers. Strangely, in most cases, such obvious answers never come—and as a result, many grow bitter in their unbelief. But they are not the only ones who feel neglected. All believers have experienced seasons of unanswered prayer.

This should lead us to reflect more deeply on certain spiritual truths. One reason for silence may be that the person praying is no longer morally fit to approach “a great and terrible God.”
Or perhaps the opposite is true: God may now require from that person a greater attentiveness than before, in accordance with the spiritual maturity they have attained.

It’s also possible that God withholds answers to avoid turning His responses into mere proofs of His existence. A pattern of answered prayers could become a kind of personal evidence, but God may desire a faith that endures—even through silence. He may be seeking trust that persists despite a season of apparent distance.