2 Corinthians 12:9 "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."
Most of us have faced times in our lives when our prayers seemed to go unanswered. Obviously, as Christians, we know that God hears our prayers but it is at these quiet times when we wonder if He really cares. I assure you, my friend, He does. During those times of waiting the answer may be that what you are asking is not in your best interest or is not part of God's plan.
We see in 2 Corinthians that God allowed some type of frustration or hindrance in Paul's life which he asked God to remove. Three times Paul asked God to take it away but God chose to allow it to remain. The Lord sees the end of the matter as well as the beginning and Paul trusted Him to do what was right by him. This serves as a great reminder to us that God has our best interest at heart. He loves us enough to answer NO when it won't fit in with His plans or purposes. He loves us enough to protect us when He can see sin on the horizon or a problem arising out of the situation.
God told Paul that "His grace was sufficient for him, for power is perfected in weakness."' Whatever it was that Paul was dealing with, God saw fit not to take it away so that His power would be evident to all through Paul's weakness. God chose to humble Paul and keep him grounded and I believe that He chooses to do that with us at times as well. Often when we have utter confidence and strength in our own abilities we do not fully depend on God's power and we take on the glory for ourselves.
Paul was able to overcome life's difficulties because God had equipped him emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. No one or no circumstance could rob Paul of the joy that God had promised because of Paul's love for Him. The weakness, the persecution, the insults, the distresses, and the difficulties only proved to make him stronger with each passing day, not by His own power but through Jesus' power.
I don't know what you are facing at this point in time but I do know that God's grace is sufficient for you! His power will be made perfect in your weakness if you will just surrender to His will and His ways. Will you allow Him to step in and take control?
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Personalize this prayer.
Dear Lord,
I'm tired. I'm at the end of myself. I don't understand why my prayers are not being answered. Could it be that I'm not listening? Am I depending on myself rather than Your all sufficient grace? Please forgive my selfishness. Please help me to clearly see the error of my ways. I know that my thoughts are not Yours and my ways are not Yours so please, help me to surrender in this moment and move out of the way. I am ready to lay down at Your feet and take direction from You. Speak to me, Lord, so that I can hear, so that Your ways are evident and I can see why You have not answered my prayers. Guide my thoughts, words, and actions to resemble Yours. I desire to glorify You by any means I am able through this whole situation. May Your light shine so brightly that it is obvious who I belong to and who is working on my behalf. Great is Your faithfulness! There definitely is no shadow of turning with Thee. You do not change and Your passions never fail so I lift Your name on High and rest in your faithfulness that has no end.
In Jesus Name,
Amen
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