What would you do when your prayer is not answered?

“Three times, I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12-8-9.

When I look back in my life, God answered many of my prayer matters. However, there are few He has chosen not to answer the way I requested in His divine will and plan. Of course, I felt weak and helpless in those times.

The great Apostle Paul also had unanswered prayers. He wrote that he pleaded three times to take away his pain. He described it this way – “I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” Make a note- He says he was given. He didn’t have a choice in this matter. He was given this thorn called some torment or pain. However, each time he prayed to remove it from him, the Lord kept on saying, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” You see, this difficulty made him weak. The Lord said His power would be made perfect each time he felt inadequate due to this difficulty.

I believe this difficulty of pain or torment remained with him all through his life. However, what Jesus said to him – He and His grace were sufficient for him. Paul remained faithful in his calling and ministry.

What would you do when the Lord does not answer your prayer for your satisfaction? You must remain faithful to his calling as Paul did. Why should you do it? The reason is that God has a more extensive and better plan for your life regardless of your pain, losses, and frustrations. NLT translates this way, “My power works best in weakness.” Think about it for a moment! God’s power works best in your weakness, period!

Therefore the great missionary and apostle Paul concluded this way. He stated that because of Christ’s assurance that His power works best in his weakness, he is even willing to delight in weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. He learned the truth that when he is weak, then He is strong in his life.

Beloved, what was that you were praying? Like we discussed yesterday, even if the good Lord does not say yes to it, you can still be joyful in the Lord, and your joy will be complete. The reason is He has a bigger and better plan in and through your weakness and difficulties. Listen! The Lord would prove His power is sufficient in your weakness.

May the lesson Paul learned to be our lesson as well in our unanswered prayers.

Would you like to pray now?
“Father in heaven, I heard Jesus say to Paul that somehow your power works best in his weakness and difficulties. I also learned this is the same in my difficult situations. I surrender my life to you. I know your all-powerful grace is sufficient for me. I believe Jesus carried my sins on his body, died, buried, and rose again for me. And you have a wonderful and extensive plan for my life. Thank you for teaching me these wonderful lessons. Please forgive my sins as I repent of it all and trust in Jesus as my savior.  Please save and grant me your presence all through my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.”