IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...
Dearly Beloved,
IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...
“Why won't God give me what I ask? Why won't he answer my prayer? If only he would go ahead and kill me! If I knew he would, I would leap for joy...” (Job 6:8-10 TEV).
It is evident from the Bible and life experiences that God does not answer all prayers, even those of His righteous ones! Job was a righteous man. God, Himself, testified to this when Satan tried to accuse Job (see Job 1:8; 2:3). However, God allowed Satan to tempt Job by destroying everything Job had, including his children. Satan even “inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7 NRSV). In his agony, Job prayed that God should kill him, at least to save him from all these suffering (see Job 6:8-10). God did not answer the prayer. To add insult to Job’s injury, his friends were accusing him and his dead children of wrongdoing against God. In spite of Job’s travail and the seeming silence of God to his plight, Job remained steadfast in his faith in God. He could still declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” and “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 13:15; 19:25 NIV). It was as if he knew about this God’s promise: “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP). God did bless Job in multiple folds at the end of the day. Instead of doing what seemed better to Job, God did His best for him!
On many occasions, God has deliberately refused to answer the prayers of His righteous ones. These people would be bitter that God does not do what they seem good for them. It takes spiritual maturity to accept the refusal of God for one’s request especially when one is passing through unpleasant life challenges. One may think that one’s request is the best while God has a better plan than one’s best request.
If God does not answer your prayers, what would you do? Would you still remain steadfast in your faith in Him? Are you ready to take His refusal for your request in anticipation for His better plan for you?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
IF GOD DOES NOT ANSWER YOUR PRAYERS...
“Why won't God give me what I ask? Why won't he answer my prayer? If only he would go ahead and kill me! If I knew he would, I would leap for joy...” (Job 6:8-10 TEV).
It is evident from the Bible and life experiences that God does not answer all prayers, even those of His righteous ones! Job was a righteous man. God, Himself, testified to this when Satan tried to accuse Job (see Job 1:8; 2:3). However, God allowed Satan to tempt Job by destroying everything Job had, including his children. Satan even “inflicted loathsome sores on Job from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head” (Job 2:7 NRSV). In his agony, Job prayed that God should kill him, at least to save him from all these suffering (see Job 6:8-10). God did not answer the prayer. To add insult to Job’s injury, his friends were accusing him and his dead children of wrongdoing against God. In spite of Job’s travail and the seeming silence of God to his plight, Job remained steadfast in his faith in God. He could still declared, “Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him” and “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth” (Job 13:15; 19:25 NIV). It was as if he knew about this God’s promise: “For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome” (Jeremiah 29:11 AMP). God did bless Job in multiple folds at the end of the day. Instead of doing what seemed better to Job, God did His best for him!
On many occasions, God has deliberately refused to answer the prayers of His righteous ones. These people would be bitter that God does not do what they seem good for them. It takes spiritual maturity to accept the refusal of God for one’s request especially when one is passing through unpleasant life challenges. One may think that one’s request is the best while God has a better plan than one’s best request.
If God does not answer your prayers, what would you do? Would you still remain steadfast in your faith in Him? Are you ready to take His refusal for your request in anticipation for His better plan for you?
In His service,
Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by A.W. Bowman on
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Excellent post.
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As an aside, most of the time when we study the book of Job, we generally consider the events from Job's point of view. Or, sometimes from God's view, Job's friends view point, or perhaps even from Satan's view.
Question for the readers of this thread: Consider yourself to be one of Job's kids, what would be your take on all of this?
As a child of Job, you are not identified as being a sinner or under God's judgment, and should you have committed any sin, your dad sacrificed everyday on your behalf (a form of spiritual insurance). Essentially, you could be classified as 'collateral damage' in a conflict between God and Satan of Job. Can we discover (and identify) God's justice in His allowing the children of Job to be killed (murdered?) by Satan?
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Back to the original question: If God does not answer your prayers, what would you do? Would you still remain steadfast in your faith in Him? Are you ready to take His refusal for your request in anticipation for His better plan for you?
I lost the relationship with two of my three children, lost my home and my business, went homeless for several months, the Spirit of God was silent for moths, and my wife died. Yet, while all of this was going on, before my wife died, she and I never ceased to trust in God - daily. Now, I have another wife (of 13 years) and her children have become my children, and all of our needs are being met on a daily bases.
I didn't think I could do it! Yet, when one realizes that they have 'come too far' to turn away from God, and, like Job, take the position of, "If you should slay me, yet shall I trust you.", then the Holy Spirit will perform those things that have been promised. Even so, as it was in the beginning of the church age, also too often during the past 2,000 years, and as it shall be during the last day, many shall be required to give the final, full measure of their faith in Jesus.
When Jesus warned everyone to 'count the costs', He was not just making religious small talk.
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