For your prayer to be answered, the desire has to be intense. The greater the intensity of desire and the longer it takes to get fulfilled, then greater will be the gratitude. Intense desire leads you to devotion. For desire to get intense, time and the need for the desire are required. The feeling of gratitude is so overwhelming after the fulfilment of desire that it's achievement loses its charm and significance.
The son of a farmer in India had a life-long desire to go to England and he prayed deeply for it. Even the news of his trip to England materializing filled him with immense gratitude -- he did not even care whether he went or not.
Often people think that they are unfortunate if their desires don't get fulfilled quickly. Intense desire can frustrate you or make you prayerful. In prayerfulness, there is gratitude and devotion. Any intense experience makes you whole.
Your consciousness is like corn. With the heat of Knowledge, consciousness pops ups and becomes white and fluffy.
