This is a tough subject. It’s not usually one that we like to address. We don’t like to think about God not answering our prayers. Usually we think if God is not answering our prayers then it’s a lack of faith on our part. What if it is just God’s will? To explain we’ll start in Timothy.
Paul writes this to Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 (ISV) Stop drinking only water, but use a little wine for your stomach because of your frequent illnesses.
Apparently Timothy had some health issues. Timothy, the close friend of Paul. Paul’s son in the faith. Paul that raised the dead, that laid hands on the sick, that cast out devils and such like. And Paul says take medication. I won’t delve into this here just understand that wine was often used for medicinal purposes in this time period. So with that understanding Paul was instructing Timothy to take medicine. I’m sure Paul and many others prayed for Timothy, but he was still sick.
This didn’t affect Paul’s faith. Paul, speaking of his own issues, would write. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (1 Corinthians 12: 8-9 KJV). Paul’s faith did not waiver. Because he trusted God. This meant if God chose not to remove the issue. If God chose not to heal then He had His reasons. He understood that what God did not keep you from that He would keep you through. He understood the words written in Isaiah 55:8-9 (KJV) 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Maybe Paul even recalled Jesus praying in the garden as we read in Matthew 26:39-42 (KJV) 39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. 42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.
Jesus had to go to the cross, Jesus had to suffer, Jesus had to die. So that He could be resurrected and purchase salvation for us all. This was the will of God.
There’s the key. If we trust God and His will, then it will not crush our faith when He says no. As I heard Corrie ten Boom say, “God answers all prayers, but sometimes the answer is no.” Sometimes it takes more faith to receive the no than the yes. Rather than trusting God only if the outcome is favorable. If we trust in God for the outcome, whatever it may be then we will not stumble in our faith in God. Because our faith is not in the outcome, but in God.
This simply means that some of the people that we pray for won’t get healed. Some trials we will go through. Some heartaches we will endure. This doesn’t mean that we don’t have enough faith. Sometimes it’s just God’s will. If we can say nevertheless not my will, but Your will be done. Then our faith will remain strong. Because our faith is in God, our faith is in His will.
Proverbs 3:5 NHEB Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 KJV 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Leave a Reply