Unanswered Prayers??? Or is the answer just delayed?

I know I'm not in the minority when I say that I've had a couple of
prayers go unanswered(it's more than a couple but who's counting).

Prayer is a tricky thing. People pray for all kinds of things, some times we
pray for health of ourselves and our loved ones, sometimes we pray for a
job or economic success. Sometimes we pray for love, happiness and
friendship.

In retrospect the prayers that seem to be answered the most are the ones
that I have asked for things that I can also help accomplish. Things like
guidance, faith, willpower, and compassion. Those are the ones that seem to get
the most positive results.

When I hear the words Unanswered Prayers I think of the Garth Brooks song
by the same title, if you haven't heard it please go look it up and listen. This
song always reminds me of all those childhood nights I prayed that a certain boy
would like me, or a certain person would talk to me...well needless to say those
things usually didn't happen.

Then I think about the things I have now. The life that I am busy creating and how
each step has lead me to the place I am right now. Not long ago I was telling
 my bestfriendthat I was glad that a prayer wasn't answered several years ago.
 He inquired why and I said because I have no doubt in my mind that if it had
 been answered that you and I would not be talking now.

Life is funny that way. God sure knew what he was doing when you let that
 one go unanswered.Maybe it wasn't really unanswered after all...it was just
 answered in god's time...not our impatient and instant gratification society but
in the timing that is right for the plan.

That brings me back to prayer....when we listen to our ministers and clergy pray
 in the church do we really listen. I know I am guilty of this, I start thinking about
the things that I want to pray about, the things that are on my heart. I'm ashamed
 to say it but I've even thought about what's for lunch after mass or how hot I am.
 I tend to lose focus when I pray and I know that when I begin to ramble I try
to close the prayer quickly with a simple "God you know what's on my heart"

I think that God does know what's on our hearts but he wants us to know
what is on our hearts too. Like I said before the prayers that seem to be the
most successful for me are the ones that I can affect. The ones that I can play
a part in...see to me I think a lot of people ask for miracles in prayers and not
just pray....

But that brings me back to the beginning and the Unanswered prayers...Do
they go unanswered because we didn't really attempt them, didn't really
believe in them or do they go unanswered because they where not right for
us????