When God Doesn't Make Senseნიმუში

Day 8: How Prayer Can Challenge Your Faith

Although hundreds of Scriptures tell us that God hears and answers prayer, it is important to acknowledge what most of us have already observed—that He does not do everything we ask in the manner that we would desire. Years may pass before we see the fulfillment of His purposes. There are other occasions when He says “no” or “wait.” And let's be honest, there are times when He says nothing at all. Many believers become confused and wounded in those instances, and their faith begins to wobble.

It seems to me that every believer has at least one problem that is especially troublesome—a nagging irritant or disease—that the Lord steadfastly refuses to remove. Regarding those difficulties, the Lord quietly repeats what He said to Paul nearly 2,000 years ago, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

If I may paraphrase my understanding of that Scripture, He says to us, “Everyone is asked to endure some things that bring discomfort, pain, or sorrow. This is yours. Accept it. Carry it. I will give you the grace to endure it.” Thus, life goes on in a state of relative imperfection. It all comes down to two choices. Either we continue to believe in God’s goodness and postpone our questions until we see Him face-to-face, or we will descend into bitterness and anger for the suffering around us. There are no other alternatives. Inevitably, we circle back to the necessity of faith.

Just Between You and God

• Dr. Dobson says we all have our “what ifs”—“What if I didn’t have this disease?” “What if I didn’t lose my husband?” “What if I wasn’t confined to this wheelchair?” There are adversities in life we can’t change, and God may never remove them. Will you choose to trust Him? Or will you live your life being angry and bitter?
• It may not seem like it at the time, but our trials and weaknesses are an opportunity for God’s power to shine. In order to see His brilliance, our perspective must change. Ask the Lord to help you focus on Him and allow you to experience His awesome power in your dark valleys.

Pray These Words

Heavenly Father, my faith often falters as I concentrate on my circumstances. Strengthen my ability to trust in You, for I know that You are with me during the storm. As I am tossed around by the wind and waves of adversity, clarify my spiritual vision, and help me set my eyes on You. Even when You don’t answer my pleas the way I would like, help me to live a life that glorifies You. Amen.

Related Resource:

Trees that never face wind can collapse under their weight, while those that get battered grow deep roots to withstand storms. Chris Bruin shows how that illustrates the Christian life—our faith grows through adversity, building resilience as we draw closer to God.