what qualifies as an answer to prayer?

the answers god might give to prayer requests can be grouped into these categories:  "yes", "no", "maybe", or "not yet".  anyone of those answers, or any variants thereof, i can deal with appropriately; some might take longer to assimilate than others, but i know i can get there.  what i cannot process is silence - no answer whatsover.  silence is not an answer.  maybe you believe that god has indeed answered my prayers, but i have not recognized it.  some have said to me, 'of course, god answers all prayers'.  that may be true for them, but not for me.  if i have to do everything just right in order to accurately detect an answer, then i am doomed.  it cannot hinge on me getting it right.  it should not be that hard!!  what do you think?