Biblical Causes of Hindered Prayer
Biblical texts and theological traditions identify several factors that can hinder prayer, ranging from internal spiritual states to external circumstances. One primary cause is sin and iniquity. The prophet Jeremiah asks, "Why criest thou for thy affliction? thy sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thy iniquity: [because] thy sins were increased, I have done these things to thee" [3]. This suggests a direct correlation between persistent sin and God's apparent unresponsiveness to cries for help. Lamentations similarly states, "Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer" [2], and "Covering yourself with a cloud, so that prayer may not get through" [4]. Augustine of Hippo, reflecting on Psalm 86, notes that "even prayers are often hindered by vain thoughts, so that the heart scarcely remains fixed on God" [8].
Beyond overt sin, other internal dispositions are cited as hindrances. Malice, for instance, is described as "incompatible with the worship of God" [6]. Strife, stemming from hatred, pride, wrath, or a contentious disposition, is also identified as a barrier [7]. John Calvin highlights "weakness or imperfection of faith" as a significant vitiating factor in prayer, though he notes God's indulgence in pardoning this defect [9]. He also emphasizes the importance of "meditation as well on the nature as on the word of God during prayer" to reanimate languid minds [13].
Maimonides, in the Mishneh Torah, outlines five things that prevent prayer, even when the time for it has arrived: the purification of hands, covering of nakedness, purity of the place of prayer, distracting things, and the proper intention of one's heart [10]. This rabbinic perspective underscores the need for both ritual purity and focused intention.
Furthermore, some biblical passages suggest that God may judicially harden hearts, rendering intercessory prayer for certain individuals unavailing, as seen in Jeremiah 7:16, 11:14, and 14:11 [11]. Procrastination in hearkening to God, seeking Him, or keeping His commandments is also condemned and can hinder spiritual efficacy [5]. The concept of "hindered" itself implies an obstruction or delay, as when Paul mentions being "much hindered from coming to you" in Romans 15:22 [1]. Even when prayers are heard immediately in heaven, the sensible answer may be delayed by spiritual opposition, as Daniel's experience illustrates [12].
Sources
- King James Version “[KJV] Romans 15:22 — For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.”
- Lamentations “Yes, when I cry, and call for help, he shuts out my prayer. -- Lamentations 3:8”
- Jeremiah “Jeremiah 30:15 (Webster) — Why criest thou for thy affliction? thy sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thy iniquity: [because] thy sins were increased, I have done these things to thee.”
- Lamentations “Lamentations 3:44 (BBE) — Covering yourself with a cloud, so that prayer may not get through.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Procrastination — Condemned by Christ -- Lu 9:59-62. Saints avoid -- Ps 27:8; 119:60. To be avoided in Hearkening to God. -- Ps 95:7,8; Heb 3:7,8. Seeking God. -- Isa 55:6. Glorifying God. -- Jer 13:16. Keeping God's commandments. -- Ps 119:60. Making offerings to God. -- Ex 22:29. Performance of vows. -- De 23:21; Ec 5:4. Motives for avoiding The present the accepted time. -- 2Co 6:2. The present the best time. -- Ec 12:1. The uncertainty of life. -- Pr 27:1. Danger of illustrated -- Mt 5:25; Lu 13:25. Exemplified Lot. -- Ge 19:16. Felix. -- Ac 24:25.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Malice — Springs from an evil heart -- Mt 15:19,20; Ga 5:19. Forbidden -- 1Co 14:20; Col 3:8; Eph 4:26,27. A hindrance to growth in grace -- 1Pe 2:1,2. Incompatible with the worship of God -- 1Co 5:7,8. Christian liberty not to be a cloak for -- 1Pe 2:16. Saints avoid -- Job 31:29,30; Ps 35:12-14. The wicked Speak with. -- 3Jo 1:10. Live in. -- Tit 3:3. Conceive. -- Ps 7:14. Filled with. -- Ro 1:29. Visit saints with. -- Ps 83:3; Mt 22:6. Pray for those who injure you through -- Mt 5:44. Brings its own punishment -- Ps 7:15,16. God requites -- Ps 10:14; Eze 36:5. Pun”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM LXXXVI.(3) (part 6): its place: the heart to be lifted up changes its will. 7. "For Thou, Lord, art good and gracious" (ver. 5). ...Even prayers are often hindered by vain thoughts, so that the heart scarcely remains fixed on God: and it would hold itself I so as to be fixed, and somehow flees from itself, and finds no frames in which it can enclose itself, no bars by which it may keep in its flights and wandering movements, and stand still to be made glad by its God. Scarcely does one such prayer occur amongst many. Each one might say that”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: to make them feel dissatisfied with themselves as they ought; and, secondly, in so far as they have been enabled to profit in repentance and the fear of God, they are humbled with just sorrow for their offenses, and pray for the remission of punishment by the judge. The thing which most of all vitiates prayer, did not God indulgently interpose, is weakness or imperfection of faith; but it is not wonderful that this defect is pardoned by God, who often exercises his people with severe trials, as if he actually wished to extinguish t”
- Mishneh Torah (Maimonides) (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Mishneh Torah (Maimonides), Mishneh Torah%2C Prayer and the Priestly Blessing 4:1: Five things prevent one from praying, even though the time [for prayer] has arrived: 1) the purification of one's hands; 2) the covering of nakedness; 3) the purity of the place of prayer; 4) things that might bother and distract one; and 5) the proper intention of one's heart.”
- Jeremiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Jeremiah 7:16: When people are given up to judicial hardness of heart, intercessory prayer for them is unavailing (Jer 11:14; Jer 14:11; Jer 15:1; Exo 32:10; Jo1 5:16).”
- Daniel (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Daniel 10:12: Fear not--Be not affrighted at my presence. didst set thine heart to understand--what shall come to pass to thy people at the last times (compare Dan 10:14). chasten thyself-- (Dan 10:2-3). thy words were heard-- (Act 10:4). Prayer is heard at once in heaven, though the sensible answer may seem to be delayed. God's messenger was detained on the way (Dan 10:13) by the opposition of the powers of darkness. If in our prayers amidst long protracted sorrows we believed God's angel is on his way to us, what consolation it would give us! for thy word”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: meditation as well on the nature as on the word of God during prayer, is by no means superfluous. Let us not decline to imitate the example of David, and introduce thoughts which may reanimate our languid minds with new vigor. 14. It is strange that these delightful promises affect us coldly, or scarcely at all, so that the generality of men prefer to wander up and down, forsaking the fountain of living waters, and hewing out to themselves broken cisterns, rather than embrace the divine liberality voluntarily offered to them. “The ”