When God seems not answering us

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

2 Corinthians 12:8-9

8 For this I entreat the Lord thrice, that it should withdraw from me.
9 And He has protested to me, "Sufficient for you is My grace, for My power in infirmity is being perfected." With the greatest relish, then, will I rather be glorying in my infirmities, that the power of Christ should be tabernacling over me.

Have you ever accidentally hit your leg against a sharp object?

For a few moments, the pain can be overwhelming. It hurts so much that all you can think about is making it stop. If someone offered you a way to make the pain disappear instantly, you would probably take it without hesitation.

That is often how we feel when life becomes difficult. We pray, we cry, we wait, yet it seems as though God is silent.

The apostle Paul understood this feeling.

He experienced a painful "thorn in the flesh" that troubled him deeply. We are told that he pleaded with God three times to take it away (2 Corinthians 12:7–9). Like any of us, Paul wanted relief. He wanted the pain to end.

But instead of removing it, God gave him an unexpected answer:

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

At first glance, that response almost seems confusing.

"Lord, I'm asking You to remove the pain. Why are You talking about grace?"

The answer is simple.

Pain is something none of us enjoys, but grace is what enables us to endure it. You may be undergoing severe emotion but God’s grace will keep you alive. You will not die on your pains.

God is not pleased by our suffering. He is a loving Father. Yet there are seasons when He allows pain because He sees a purpose that we cannot yet see. Sometimes the very thing we are asking God to remove is the tool He is using to shape us into the people He has called us to become.

Think about a gardener pruning a tree.

If trees could talk, they probably wouldn't enjoy having their branches cut off. Pruning looks painful. But every gardener knows that pruning is not meant to destroy the tree—it is meant to help it grow stronger and produce more fruit.

God often works the same way in our lives.

So, if you feel like your prayers are going unanswered, don't assume God has stopped listening. He hears every prayer. He sees every tear. He knows every sleepless night and every silent struggle. He can turn your disappointments to appointments.

                                                                  

If it is His will to remove your pain, He will.

If it is His will for you to walk through it for a season, He will give you the grace to endure it. As Scripture reminds us, God is faithful and will never allow you to face more than He will also give you strength to bear (1 Corinthians 10:13).

So yes, it is okay to cry.

It is okay to feel weak.

It is okay to step away for a little while to gather your strength.

But don't believe the lie that you are walking through your pain alone. God is with you every step of the way.

And this season will not last forever.

In His perfect time, He will bring healing. He will give you wisdom. He will use what once caused you pain to become part of your testimony.

Until then, hold on to His promise:

His grace is sufficient.

His grace will carry you when your strength is gone.

His grace will remind you that you are never abandoned.

His grace will reveal God's power even in your weakest moments.

May God's grace be sufficient for you today and always.

I pray this week's blog encourages your heart and strengthens your faith.

By God's grace, I'll see you again next week for another episode.

*Kindly leave your comment(s) in the comment section below. Thanks.

Shalom!

 

 

References:

https://www.concordant.org/version/read-concordant-new-testament-online

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