What is your response when the outcome to your prayers isn’t what you expected? God answers our prayers, but it may not be the answer that we desire. The Apostle Paul faced this situation as he prayed that God would remove a difficulty in his life:

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-8)

We don’t know the nature of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, but he was desperately praying for relief. Paul knew that God could take away his discomfort, but he also realized that God allowed this malady for a purpose. There are times when God says no to our request. When God says no it is because He has a better plan:

And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

These six words, My grace is sufficient for you, provide the basis for a life of joy and peace. We see that it is God’s grace, His supernatural power, that enables us to not simply endure hardship, but to rise above our circumstances and experience growth. Prayer is not simply deliverance from a situation, but prayer enables us to accept and be transformed in the midst of the trial. We want God to take away our problem, but He is able to give us the grace to stand strong in the midst of the trial. Phillips Brooks wisely remarked, “Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men! Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers. Pray for powers equal to your tasks.”

We can pray in confidence knowing that His grace is sufficient. The word sufficient means to be enough with the implication of being possessed with unfailing strength. Do you realize that in whatever situation you’re facing, that His grace is sufficient for you? God may not give us an explanation, but He gives us His promises.

Paul could choose his own strength, or he could acknowledge his weaknesses and trust in God’s power – but he couldn’t choose both. We must realize that our strength is actually weak compared to God’s strength. Weakness that knows itself to be weakness is actually a strength. That’s how Paul could be content in his weaknesses because he was resting in God’s strength:

Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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