Some people feel that prayer is just a waste of time, that no one is listening. Others have tried to pray but feel that they got no answer. One atheist conjured up an idea of what he imagined God to be and then prayed: “Just give me a little whisper.” But he said that God maintained “stately silence.”

Yet, the Bible assures us that there is a personal God and that he does hear prayers. The Bible records this statement to a people long ago: “He [God] will surely show you favor at the sound of your cry for help; he will answer you as soon as he hears it.” (Isaiah 30:19) Another Bible verse says: “The prayer of the upright is a pleasure to Him.”​—Proverbs 15:8.

The Bible also recounts examples of those whose prayers were heard. One verse says that Jesus offered up “petitions . . . to the One who was able to save him” and that “he was favorably heard.” (Hebrews 5:7) Other examples can be found at Daniel 9:21 and 2 Chronicles 7:1.

Why, then, do some people feel that their prayers are not answered? To be heard, we must pray only to the God of the Bible, Jehovah,a not to any other god or to ancestors. God also requires that we “ask according to his will”​—for things he approves of. God assures us that if we pray in this way, “he hears us.” (1 John 5:14) So, for our prayers to be heard, we need to get to know the God of the Bible and learn what his will is.

Many people believe that prayer is not just a religious exercise but that God does listen to prayers and answers them. Isaac, from Kenya, says: “I prayed for help to understand the Bible. Soon afterward, someone approached me and offered the help I needed.” In the Philippines, Hilda wanted to quit smoking. After repeated failures, her husband suggested, “Why not pray to God for help?” She applied the advice and says: “I was amazed at how He helped me. It was as if I began to lose my desire to smoke. I was able to stop.”

Might God be interested in helping you with your personal concerns that are in harmony with his will?

God extends his hand of friendship.

Friends communicate with each other to cultivate a good relationship. Likewise, God invites us to talk to him, opening the way for a warm friendship. He says: “You will call me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12) As you speak to God, you will “draw close to [him], and he will draw close to you.” (James 4:8) The Bible assures us: “Jehovah is near to all those calling on him.” (Psalm 145:18) The more we pray to him, the more our friendship with God will flourish.

God wants to help you.

Jesus said: “Which one of you, if his son asks for bread, will hand him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not hand him a serpent, will he? Therefore, if you . . . know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more so will your Father who is in the heavens give good things to those asking him!” (Matthew 7:9-11) Yes, God invites you to pray because “he cares for you” and wants to help you. (1 Peter 5:7) He even invites you to go to him with your problems. The Bible tells us: “Do not be anxious over anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication along with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God.”​—Philippians 4:6.