Unanswered prayers...
and the secret of contentment
Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want I can do
everything through Him who gives me strength."
How did he learn the secret of contentment? Of being content even when
"hungry" or "in want"?
It went back a number of years to an experience that he tells about in 2
Corinthians 12:7-8 when he had a need in his life. He pleaded with the Lord
three times to remove that thorn in his flesh.
And the Lord's answer was ... No!
Instead of taking away Paul's problem, as Paul had prayed, the Lord said to
him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in
weakness."
So Paul then says, "That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in
weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when
I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9).
In the administration of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to the
Apostle Paul, He does not promise to fix all our problems. There is no promise
like in the gospels where the Lord promised Israel that "whatever you ask in
faith you shall receive."
Read through all of Paul's letters where he writes about the administration
of God's grace that the Lord Jesus revealed to him for us today, and you never
read a promise like 'whatever you ask in faith you'll receive.' Here is
the answer to the problem of unanswered prayers today. Claiming a promise that
wasn't made to us.
Today, under grace, we have the promise of "grace and power" (2
Corinthians 12:8) sufficient for any problem in our lives, and the Lord Jesus
wants us to learn this secret of contentment. Not that He will fix all our
problems or "move all our mountains" out of our way, no matter how much
faith we may have, but that He is our strength.
"I can do everything through Christ who constantly strengthens me!"
Have you learned the secret? Do you know God's Grace For Today?
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