Return of Prayers

Thomas Goodwin's "The Return of Prayers" emerges from the fertile theological soil of seventeenth-century English Puritanism, written when Goodwin was establishing himself as one of the movement's most penetrating minds. This treatise addresses a perennial concern of earnest believers: how to understand God's response to prayer, particularly when that response seems delayed, altered, or absent entirely. Goodwin wrote for Christians wrestling with the gap between their expectations in prayer and their experience of divine providence.

The work's central argument unfolds around the principle that God invariably answers prayer, though rarely in the exact form petitioners expect. Goodwin distinguishes between the essence of what believers request and the particular manner they envision receiving it, arguing that God often grants the former while wisely withholding or modifying the latter. He traces the journey of prayers from their earthly utterance to their heavenly reception, demonstrating how divine wisdom transforms human requests into responses that serve both individual sanctification and cosmic purposes. The treatise examines how apparent denials often represent divine redirection, how delays serve formative purposes, and how God's ultimate answers frequently exceed the scope of original petitions. Goodwin weaves together careful biblical exegesis with practical pastoral insight, showing how believers can discern God's responses even when they differ markedly from initial expectations.

This work has retained its relevance because it addresses the universal Christian struggle with unanswered prayer through rigorous theological analysis rather than superficial comfort. Goodwin's framework helps believers interpret their prayer lives within the broader context of divine sovereignty and sanctification, offering tools for spiritual discernment that transcend his particular historical moment. The treatise continues to serve pastors and theologians seeking to understand petitionary prayer within Reformed theological frameworks.

Who should read this: Christians frustrated by seemingly unanswered prayers will find Goodwin's careful theological analysis illuminating, particularly those comfortable with Reformed perspectives on divine sovereignty. This work is not suitable for readers seeking quick comfort or simple formulas for prayer effectiveness.