A Thorny Issue

A thorny issue for many Christians rises when God isn't answering their prayers or doesn't seem to be or isn't answering them as they deem appropriately.  Facing the death of a loved one, a financial meltdown, a personal health issue, a failing marriage, a job loss, or whatever life challenge lies before you; why doesn't God fix it?

There you are, a child of God, facing a painful situation and your prayers seemingly go unheeded.  Why would God simply ignore you?  The simple answer: He wouldn't.  God does not ignore His children: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us---whatever we ask---we know that we have what we asked of him" (1 Jn 5:14-15).

God hears and God answers but "according to his will" not ours.  While we may not understand it or like it even a little bit, God determines how your prayer ought to be answered, not you.  You turn to God in your pain or need and ask Him for what you think is the proper remedy but that doesn't mean God agrees.  And God, not you or me, knows what is best, all things considered.

That is where we often times miss the boat.  We pray with our personal circumstances or the circumstances of those we love in mind.  God, however, answers mindful of circumstances we don't have in mind.  Our vision and understanding is limited but God's is not.  While we may be thinking of the pain, He may be looking at the gain.

The apostle Paul prayed three times for "a thorn" to be removed but God refused saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor 12:9).  Without going too deeply into the theology of the passage for sake of time, Paul's perception of a terrible hindrance was actually an opportunity for God's power to be more fully evidenced in his life.

It wasn't just about Paul but rather how the Lord could bring about the most good in Paul's life, good that Paul might otherwise have missed and benefit he might never have realized.  Whether Paul understood the timing or the reasoning was not the point - God is always good and is always right.

However, his answers reflect all things considered, not just the things near to us, dear to us or clear to us.  Just like a loving parent might refuse to give a child the candy asked for, presenting something green instead.  Or prevent them from running after their ball that is rolling toward a busy street. So God looks beyond the moment, beyond our sight, beyond our ability to fully grasp and answers accordingly.  When God's answers feel thorny, it's because there is a point behind them.  Jus' Say'n.