Four possible God´s answers to the right prayer said by the right person II

Peace be upon you, my dear readers of “Daily word for spiritual strength”!

We have clarified which prayers God answers. Even more, there are four possible answers to our prayers.

Answer Nr.1 – Immediate answer. Answer Nr.2 – Delayed answer.

Answer Nr.3 – God says «No!» In this case you should be as glad with this answer as you are when God says “Yes”. “No” is the most difficult thing to hear and to pronounce. Some people never accept answer “No” at all. Those who dare say “No” to them become enemies of such people. Sometimes we are not able to accept a negative answer from God either.

Apostle Paul wrote in his letter about a thorn in his flesh used by the angel of Satan to inflict pain on him. Paul prayed three times for its removal, but God said “No!” Didn’t Paul remain in God and the word of God in him? We know it was so; the word of God abundantly remained in Paul’s life, while Paul was seeking how to fulfill God’s will in everything. In other words, Paul prayed the right way, and he was the right person as well, although God rejected his request.

«By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong..» (2 Cor.12:7-10).

Let me bring this important truth to you: each time God says “No!”, He is trying to create something in your life – something necessary and useful to you. Each time saying “No!” God pours His mercy and peace on you, enabling you to go forward and enjoy your life.

God didn’t remove the thorn from Paul’s life, but granted His mercy to Paul so God’s power could be revealed in Paul’s weaknesses. That’s why Paul could be happy having received a negative answer from God.

God gives us peace, which is higher than any wisdom, a peace this world cannot understand. Being persecuted more than any other apostle, Paul was able to rejoice in his weaknesses, needs, insults, persecutions, and hardships for Christ because the mercy of God remained on him all the time. Paul could feel strong in his weaknesses by virtue of the grace of God poured out in his life.

Answer Nr.4 – God’s answer comes in a way different from what we expected it to be.

God knows better what we need and what is really better for us. Who has ever prayed to God for patience? Surely, many of us did. When we ask God for such a thing, we expect patience to come over us from heaven in the blink of an eye without any effort from our side. In reality God can implement it into our life in a different way. When we ask God for patience, He often sends sufferings to us. Which one of us expects sufferings when asking God for patience?

The answer is: nobody! Meanwhile, God knows suffering makes us patient. It´s also mentioned in the word of God:

«Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance;» (Romans 5:3).

Exactly sufferings are followed by patience or perseverance.

We often ask God to multiply our faith, and He likes such prayers. Nevertheless, His answer doesn’t meet our expectations quite often. We are asking Him to multiply our faith, and He sends a Goliath we have to fight on our way. God often sends a huge problem into our life to multiply our faith and to teach us to lean on God Almighty, not on our own strength. However, we expect a totally different answer from God. That’s why, having received an answer different from the one you expected from God, calm down and start praising Him for answering your prayers.

Summing up all the above, does God answer all our prayers? Sure, He does; He answers all prayers said by the right person according to His will. Rejoice when you receive an immediate answer to your prayer. Do the same when the answer comes with delay, since God wants to make His will complete in your life. Be glad when God says “No” to your request; in this case He fills you with His grace and peace. Finally, rejoice when His answer differs from the one you expected from Him, because everything God does works for your good.

«We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.» (Romans 8:28).

Rufus Adjiboye, pastor