--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There are three answers to prayer: yes…" description: "\"There are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait a while. It must be recognized that no is an answer.\" — Ruth Stafford Peale" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/ruth-stafford-peale-67859_answers_there-are-three-answers-to-prayer-yes-no_3079863.png" --- # There are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait a… ![“There are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait a while. It must be recognized that no is an answer.” quote by Ruth Stafford Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/ruth-stafford-peale-67859_answers_there-are-three-answers-to-prayer-yes-no_3079863.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/ruth-stafford-peale-67859_answers_there-are-three-answers-to-prayer-yes-no_3079863.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8e3/ruth-stafford-peale-67859_answers_there-are-three-answers-to-prayer-yes-no_3079863.png) > “There are three answers to prayer: yes, no, and wait a while. It must be recognized that no is an answer.” [Ruth Stafford Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stafford-peale/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Prayer can yield three outcomes: affirmation, denial, or delayed timing; recognizing “no” is essential. **In simple terms:** Prayer answers: yes, no, wait; accept “no.” Key Takeaway Accept all prayer responses. Themes faith patience acceptance decision‑making Mood thoughtful encouraging Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - relationship counseling - career decisions - health concerns - personal goals Key Concepts theology psychology mindfulness Questions to Reflect On - How do you respond to a “no” answer? - Can patience transform outcomes? A Different Perspective Waiting can cause frustration and doubt. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Answers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers/) [Answers Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-prayer/) [Answers to prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/answers-to-prayer/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Yes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-yes-4004877/) [Three](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/three/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Wait Recognized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-recognized-5248646/) [Waiting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/waiting/) ## Related quotes > [God has 3 Answers for Each Prayer.. 1. Yes 2. Wait 3. I have another plan for you But he never says NO. Trust…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahsa/god-has-3-answers-for-each-prayer-1-yes-2-wait-3-i-have-another-plan/) [Mahsa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahsa/) > [God only gives three answers to prayer: 1. 'Yes!' 2. 'Not yet.' 3. 'I have something better in mind.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/god-only-gives-three-answers-to-prayer-1-yes-2-not-yet-3-i-have/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [God always answers prayer, sometimes with a yes, sometimes with a no and sometimes with a 'You've got to be kidding!'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/god-always-answers-prayer-sometimes-with-a-yes-sometimes-with-a-no/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [Answers to prayer have to be on God's schedule, not ours. He hears us pray, and He answers according to His will in His…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jeremiah/answers-to-prayer-have-to-be-on-god-s-schedule-not-ours-he-hears-us/) [David Jeremiah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jeremiah/) > [If the answers to prayer are merely what God wills all along, then why pray?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-barker/if-the-answers-to-prayer-are-merely-what-god-wills-all-along-then-why/) [Dan Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-barker/) > [ We grew up in a praying home \[with Alex Kendrick\], we saw incredible answers to prayer in our parents' lives, they grew up in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-kendrick/we-grew-up-in-a-praying-home-with-alex-kendrick-we-saw-incredible/) [Stephen Kendrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-kendrick/) > [Delayed answers to prayer are not only trials of faith; they also give us opportunities to honor God through our steadfast confidence in Him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/delayed-answers-to-prayer-are-not-only-trials-of-faith-they-also-give/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) > [The more helpless you are, the better you are fitted to pray, and the more answers to prayer you will experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/the-more-helpless-you-are-the-better-you-are-fitted-to-pray-and-the/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [If we will make use of prayer to call down upon ourselves and others those things which will glorify the name of God, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ole-hallesby/if-we-will-make-use-of-prayer-to-call-down-upon-ourselves-and-others/) [Ole Hallesby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ole-hallesby/) > [The shower of answers to your prayers will continue to your dying hour. 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Cuyler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-l-cuyler/) > [You might not see god, you might not get to talk to him, you might not think he is the leader, but hey he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria/you-might-not-see-god-you-might-not-get-to-talk-to-him-you-might-not/) [Maria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria/) > [We don't have all the answers. Perhaps prayer is simply a time we set aside to acknowledge that reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-e-hunt/we-don-t-have-all-the-answers-perhaps-prayer-is-simply-a-time-we-set/) [Mary E. Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-e-hunt/) > [“It would be even worse to think of those who get what they pray for as a sort of court favourites, people who have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/it-would-be-even-worse-to-think-of-those-who-get-what-they-pray-for/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) ## More by Ruth Stafford Peale > [Find a need and fill it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stafford-peale/find-a-need-and-fill-it/) [Ruth Stafford Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stafford-peale/) > [Expressed affection is the best of all methods to use when you want to light a glow in someone's heart and to feel it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stafford-peale/expressed-affection-is-the-best-of-all-methods-to-use-when-you-want/) [Ruth Stafford Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stafford-peale/) > [APPRECIATION IN ANY FORM AT ANY TIME BRIGHTENS ANYONE'S EXISTENCE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-stafford-peale/appreciation-in-any-form-at-any-time-brightens-anyone-s-existence/) [Ruth Stafford Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stafford-peale/) [Explore all 4 Ruth Stafford Peale quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-stafford-peale/) ## More Answers quotes > [The one thing that I keep learning over and over again is that I don't know nothing. 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