--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You cannot always depend on prayers to be…" description: "\"“You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend on God. God, the loving Father often denie..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg" --- # You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way… ![“You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend on God. God, the loving Father often denies us those things which in the end would prove harmful to us. Every boy wants a revolver at age four, and no father yet has ever granted that…” quote by Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg) > ““You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend on God. God, the loving Father often denies us those things which in the end would prove harmful to us. Every boy wants a revolver at age four, and no father yet has ever granted that request. Why should we think God is less wise? Someday we will thank God not only for what He gave us, but also for that which He refused.”” [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. God’s wisdom may deny our wishes to protect us; trust His plan. **In simple terms:** God may refuse harmful requests for our good. Key Takeaway Trust divine wisdom over personal desire. Themes faith trust divine wisdom Mood reflective hopeful Type spiritual philosophical When to use this quote - personal crisis - health decisions - ethical dilemmas Key Concepts theology spiritual growth Questions to Reflect On - What signs indicate a request is harmful? - How do you balance prayer with practical action? A Different Perspective Blind trust can ignore personal responsibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Catholic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) [Catholic-spirituality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic-spirituality/) [Catholicism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholicism/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) ## Related quotes > [“Curiously enough, it is a fear of how grace will change and improve them that keeps many souls away from God. They want God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/curiously-enough-it-is-a-fear-of-how-grace-will-change-and-improve/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“In moments when fever, agony, and pain make it hard to pray, the suggestion of prayer that comes from merely holding the rosary -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/in-moments-when-fever-agony-and-pain-make-it-hard-to-pray-the/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Broken things are precious. We eat broken bread because we share in the depth of our Lord and His broken life. Broken flowers give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/broken-things-are-precious-we-eat-broken-bread-because-we-share-in/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“There has been no single influence which has done more to prevent man from finding God and rebuilding his character, has done more to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-has-been-no-single-influence-which-has-done-more-to-prevent-man/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Those who deny guilt and sin are like the Pharisees of old who thought our Saviour had a “guilt complex” because He accused them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/those-who-deny-guilt-and-sin-are-like-the-pharisees-of-old-who/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Strong passions are the precious raw material of sanctity. Individuals that have carried their sinning to extremes should not despair or say, “I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/strong-passions-are-the-precious-raw-material-of-sanctity-individuals/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The Christian soul knows it needs Divine Help and therefore turns to Him Who loved us even while we were yet sinners. Examination of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-christian-soul-knows-it-needs-divine-help-and-therefore-turns-to/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“No soul ever fell away from God without giving up prayer. Prayer is that which establishes contact with Divine Power and opens the invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/no-soul-ever-fell-away-from-god-without-giving-up-prayer-prayer-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Deep sorrow does not come because one has violated a law, but only if one knows he has broken off the relationship with Divine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/deep-sorrow-does-not-come-because-one-has-violated-a-law-but-only-if/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Divinely wise souls often infuriate the worldly-wise because they always see things from the Divine point of view. The worldly are willing to let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/divinely-wise-souls-often-infuriate-the-worldly-wise-because-they/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The nearer Christ comes to a heart, the more it becomes conscious of its guilt; it will then either ask for his mercy and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-nearer-christ-comes-to-a-heart-the-more-it-becomes-conscious-of/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Skeptics always want miracles such as stepping down from the Cross, but never the greater miracle of forgiveness.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/skeptics-always-want-miracles-such-as-stepping-down-from-the-cross/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [A God wise enough to create me and the world I live in is wise enough to watch out for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/a-god-wise-enough-to-create-me-and-the-world-i-live-in-is-wise-enough/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Take a moment to thank God for being wise enough not to give us everything we think we want-and all that comes with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/take-a-moment-to-thank-god-for-being-wise-enough-not-to-give-us/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If I say that God is good, that is not true. God is not good. I am good, and if I say that God…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meister-eckhart/if-i-say-that-god-is-good-that-is-not-true-god-is-not-good-i-am-good/) [Meister Eckhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meister-eckhart/) ## More by Fulton J. Sheen > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [There are 200 million poor in the world who would gladly take the vow of poverty if they could eat, dress and have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/there-are-200-million-poor-in-the-world-who-would-gladly-take-the-vow/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is the key to the mystery. Love by its very nature is not selfish, but generous. It seeks not its own, but the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/love-is-the-key-to-the-mystery-love-by-its-very-nature-is-not-selfish/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“This is what Aristotle meant when he said that the object of science is the necessary and the universal; man and not this man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/this-is-what-aristotle-meant-when-he-said-that-the-object-of-science/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Pride is an admission of weakness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/pride-is-an-admission-of-weakness-it-secretly-fears-all-competition/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Calamity, war, famine, plague, death, adversity, disease, injury do not necessarily produce repentance. We may become better in a calamity but it does not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/calamity-war-famine-plague-death-adversity-disease-injury-do-not/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [No one has ever laughed at a pun who did not see in the one word a twofold meaning. To materialists this world is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/no-one-has-ever-laughed-at-a-pun-who-did-not-see-in-the-one-word-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/love-is-a-mutual-self-giving-which-ends-in-self-recovery/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [The Soviet Union is like the Cross without Christ, while American culture is like Christ without the Cross.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-soviet-union-is-like-the-cross-without-christ-while-american/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The 'fullness of reality' in the second sense of the term is perceived by a combination of both intellect and sense, the senses knowing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-fullness-of-reality-in-the-second-sense-of-the-term-is-perceived/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The mathematical method is disinterested in the efficient cause and the final cause or the goodness of a thing and it should not be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-mathematical-method-is-disinterested-in-the-efficient-cause-and/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“The Church makes no man less free than he was before. But we chiefly value freedom in order to give it away; every man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-church-makes-no-man-less-free-than-he-was-before-but-we-chiefly/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“To those who rejected Him, righteousness would one day appear as a terrible justice; to the sinful men who accepted Him and allied themselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/to-those-who-rejected-him-righteousness-would-one-day-appear-as-a/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [It is easy to find truth, though it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/it-is-easy-to-find-truth-though-it-is-hard-to-face-it-and-harder/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [One function of the angels is illumination, and the other function is that of being a guardian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/one-function-of-the-angels-is-illumination-and-the-other-function-is/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) [Explore all 414 Fulton J. Sheen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) ## More Catholic quotes > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I'm Catholic and I can't commit suicide, but I plan to drink myself to death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-kerouac/i-m-catholic-and-i-can-t-commit-suicide-but-i-plan-to-drink-myself-to/) [Jack Kerouac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-kerouac/) > [ The young man \[Turgot\] destined for an ecclesiastical career was placed within walls carefully designed to keep out all currents of new thought; his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-dickson-white/the-young-man-turgot-destined-for-an-ecclesiastical-career-was-placed/) [Andrew Dickson White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-dickson-white/) > [Like many other scientists who hold the Catholic faith, I see the Creator's plan and purpose fulfilled in our universe. I see a planet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-r-miller/like-many-other-scientists-who-hold-the-catholic-faith-i-see-the/) [Kenneth R. Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-r-miller/) > [I'm the daughter of a Kenyan Catholic father and a Mauritian Hindu mother, and I have a Jewish husband who was born in South…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suella-braverman/i-m-the-daughter-of-a-kenyan-catholic-father-and-a-mauritian-hindu/) [Suella Braverman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suella-braverman/) > [The reason I went to an all-boys Catholic school was because they had the best football team. We won the state championship my junior…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-rossi/the-reason-i-went-to-an-all-boys-catholic-school-was-because-they-had/) [Theo Rossi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-rossi/) > [I grew up with a religious background.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-caruso/i-grew-up-with-a-religious-background/) [Alex Caruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-caruso/) > [ Girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his \[Jesus\] paths by the guidance of the Gospel. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benedict-of-nursia/girded-with-faith-and-the-performance-of-good-works-let-us-follow-in/) [Benedict of Nursia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benedict-of-nursia/) > [“Even at the tender age of twelve, when I knelt in front of the bishop for my confirmation, I had the sneaking suspicion that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-edwards/even-at-the-tender-age-of-twelve-when-i-knelt-in-front-of-the-bishop/) Megan Edwards > [Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pio-of-pietrelcina/pray-hope-and-don-t-worry/) [Pio of Pietrelcina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pio-of-pietrelcina/) > [My grandmother was a minister as well, which was not that common in the 1930s.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-firth/my-grandmother-was-a-minister-as-well-which-was-not-that-common-in/) [Colin Firth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-firth/) > [My grandmother made sure that I went to church every Sunday. And she'd come over and pick us boys up, and we would go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mellencamp/my-grandmother-made-sure-that-i-went-to-church-every-sunday-and-she-d/) [John Mellencamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mellencamp/) > [I think being raised within a Mexican Catholic family made magical realism a very natural part of who I am as a person and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/i-think-being-raised-within-a-mexican-catholic-family-made-magical/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [I am surprised that anyone can profess to be an atheist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-comfort/i-am-surprised-that-anyone-can-profess-to-be-an-atheist/) [Ray Comfort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-comfort/) > [You can never completely get it - being a Christian - but I think I really got it when my first son was born…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/you-can-never-completely-get-it-being-a-christian-but-i-think-i/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) [Browse all 4,027 Catholic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/catholic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend on God. God, the loving Father often denies us those things which in the end would prove harmful to us. Every boy wants a revolver at age four, and no father yet has ever granted that request. Why should we think God is less wise? Someday we will thank God not only for what He gave us, but also for that which He refused.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Fulton J. Sheen" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-be-answered-the-way-you-want/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Catholic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-be-answered-the-way-you-want/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/659/fulton-j-sheen-675_catholic_you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-b_2696117.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You cannot always depend on prayers to be answered the way you want them answered but you can always depend…” — Fulton J. Sheen", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Fulton J. Sheen", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“You cannot always depend on prayers...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-be-answered-the-way-you-want/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/you-cannot-always-depend-on-prayers-to-be-answered-the-way-you-want/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```