--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: We never understand what we're praying…" description: "\"We never understand what we're praying, and God, in His mercy, does not answer our prayers according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/rich-mullins-4737_answers_we-never-understand-what-we-re-praying-a_438697.png" --- # We never understand what we're praying, and God, in His… ![“We never understand what we're praying, and God, in His mercy, does not answer our prayers according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom.” quote by Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/rich-mullins-4737_answers_we-never-understand-what-we-re-praying-a_438697.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/rich-mullins-4737_answers_we-never-understand-what-we-re-praying-a_438697.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2f0/rich-mullins-4737_answers_we-never-understand-what-we-re-praying-a_438697.png) > “We never understand what we're praying, and God, in His mercy, does not answer our prayers according to our understanding, but according to His wisdom.” [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer may not be answered as we expect; divine wisdom guides outcomes beyond our understanding. **In simple terms:** God answers differently than we think. Key Takeaway Trust higher wisdom over personal expectations. Themes faith humility divine wisdom Mood contemplative reverent Type theological inspirational When to use this quote - personal loss - illness - decision making Key Concepts prayer interpretation trust Questions to Reflect On - How do you reconcile unanswered prayers? - What does trust look like in hardship? A Different Perspective Expectations can cause disappointment if not aligned with divine plan. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Compassion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/compassion/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Mercy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mercy/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Praying God](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying-god/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) ## Related quotes > [There is nothing to be valued more highly than to have people praying for us; God links up His power in answer to their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/there-is-nothing-to-be-valued-more-highly-than-to-have-people-praying/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [I have not placed reading before praying because I regard it more important, but because, in order to pray aright, we must understand what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-grimke/i-have-not-placed-reading-before-praying-because-i-regard-it-more/) [Angelina Grimke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-grimke/) > [Prayer is an act of faith. Just by praying to God, you are declaring our trust in someone other than yourself. Your faith is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stanley/prayer-is-an-act-of-faith-just-by-praying-to-god-you-are-declaring/) [Charles Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stanley/) > [The answer of our prayers is secured by the fact that in rejecting them God would in a certain sense deny His own nature.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/the-answer-of-our-prayers-is-secured-by-the-fact-that-in-rejecting/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [If God wished to punish us, all he would need to do would be to answer our prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-god-wished-to-punish-us-all-he-would-need-to-do-would-be-to-answer/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Pray with a pure heart and pray from where you are. God will answer your prayers. There is no need to abandon the world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shri-radhe-maa/pray-with-a-pure-heart-and-pray-from-where-you-are-god-will-answer/) [Shri Radhe Maa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shri-radhe-maa/) > [If God really wanted to punish, he'd answer all our prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/if-god-really-wanted-to-punish-he-d-answer-all-our-prayers/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers. My prayer was to be immortalized by unintelligent gibbons on a satirical Web…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/when-the-gods-wish-to-punish-us-they-answer-our-prayers-my-prayer-was/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Some people think God should in some way come to you and assist you, should answer your prayers. Why? It exists in perfect ecstasy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/some-people-think-god-should-in-some-way-come-to-you-and-assist-you/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Don't quit. For if you do, you may miss the answer to your prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-lucado/don-t-quit-for-if-you-do-you-may-miss-the-answer-to-your-prayers/) [Max Lucado](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-lucado/) > [If you seek His help, be sure your life is clean, your motives are worthy, and you're willing to do what He asks-for He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-g-scott/if-you-seek-his-help-be-sure-your-life-is-clean-your-motives-are/) [Richard G. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-g-scott/) > [Sometimes the answer to our prayers is to become the answer to someone else's prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-breault/sometimes-the-answer-to-our-prayers-is-to-become-the-answer-to/) [Robert Breault](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-breault/) > [God's willingness to answer our prayers exceeds our willingness to give good and necessary things to our children, just as far as God's ability,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-mckendree-bounds/god-s-willingness-to-answer-our-prayers-exceeds-our-willingness-to/) [Edward McKendree Bounds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-mckendree-bounds/) > [We never know how God will answer our prayers, but we can expect that He will get us involved in His plan for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corrie-ten-boom/we-never-know-how-god-will-answer-our-prayers-but-we-can-expect-that/) [Corrie Ten Boom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corrie-ten-boom/) > [We may surprised at whom God sends to answer our prayers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janette-oke/we-may-surprised-at-whom-god-sends-to-answer-our-prayers/) [Janette Oke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janette-oke/) ## More by Rich Mullins > [I have no physical genius about me. I can't dribble a ball and run at the same time, I can't do lay-ups - I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-have-no-physical-genius-about-me-i-can-t-dribble-a-ball-and-run-at/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I grew up hearing everyone tell me 'God loves you'. I would say big deal, God loves everybody. That don't make me special! That…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-grew-up-hearing-everyone-tell-me-god-loves-you-i-would-say-big-deal/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [“I am thinking now of old Moses sitting on a mountain—sitting with God—looking across the Jordan into the Promised Land. I am thinking of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-am-thinking-now-of-old-moses-sitting-on-a-mountain-sitting-with-god/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think that of all the diseases in the world, the disease that all humankind suffers from, the disease that is most devastating to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-think-that-of-all-the-diseases-in-the-world-the-disease-that-all/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [God spoke to Balaam through his ass. I believe God still speaks through asses today. 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That's how our Father listens to us.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/bear-in-mind-children-that-they-listen-to-you-because-you-are-kids/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [Never forget what Jesus did for you. Never take lightly what it cost Him. And never assume that if it cost Him His very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/never-forget-what-jesus-did-for-you-never-take-lightly-what-it-cost/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [There's a difference, you know, between faith and playing make-believe. One will make you grow. The other one will make you sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/there-s-a-difference-you-know-between-faith-and-playing-make-believe/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [There's people been friendly But they'd never be your friends Sometimes this has bent me to the ground](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/there-s-people-been-friendly-but-they-d-never-be-your-friends/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [And step by step You'll lead me / And I will follow You all of my days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/and-step-by-step-you-ll-lead-me-and-i-will-follow-you-all-of-my-days/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I had a professor one time... He said, 'Class, you will forget almost everything I will teach you in here, so please remember this:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-had-a-professor-one-time-he-said-class-you-will-forget-almost/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) > [I think I would envy me too, if I didn't know me better...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-mullins/i-think-i-would-envy-me-too-if-i-didn-t-know-me-better/) [Rich Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) [Explore all 107 Rich Mullins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-mullins/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. I mean, that's my life lesson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/the-one-thing-that-i-keep-learning-over-and-over-again-is-that-i-don/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [Sometimes a question can hurt more than an answer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-dessen/sometimes-a-question-can-hurt-more-than-an-answer/) [Sarah Dessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-dessen/) > [You feed yourself. Make sure you have all the information, whether it's aesthetic, scientific, mathematical, I don't care what it is. Then you walk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/you-feed-yourself-make-sure-you-have-all-the-information-whether-it-s/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [I have long felt that the way to keep children out of trouble is to keep them interested in things. 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It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [There is a comfort in rituals, and rituals provide a framework for stability when you are trying to find answers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-norville/there-is-a-comfort-in-rituals-and-rituals-provide-a-framework-for/) [Deborah Norville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-norville/) > [A religious person answers to God, not to the elected or non-elected official.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/a-religious-person-answers-to-god-not-to-the-elected-or-non-elected/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [Let us remember that every worldview-not just Christianity's-must give an explanation or an answer for evil and suffering...this is not just a problem distinctive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/let-us-remember-that-every-worldview-not-just-christianity-s-must/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [Instead of asking a girl how she feels, try looking through her recently listened to songs. 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