I rarely ever remember my dreams. I’ve had only two dreams in my life that I knew were from the Lord, and I know this because they are just as real and vivid today as they were the night I had them. In one of those dreams, I was walking through a maze of concrete walls. Every time I tried to exit, this man in a black suit would block the exit, smile, and shake his head no. I turned around and went another way, and just as I neared another exit, there he was again, smiling and shaking his head no. This happened at least four times. The last time, I started to turn around and find another way, but instead I walked up to him, extremely irritated, and said, “In the name of Jesus, I command you to get out of my way.” Immediately, his suit turned from black to white, his smirking smile became a kind, loving one, and he stepped aside, allowing me to exit. I was going through a really hard time in my life, and I believe the Lord was showing me that I had authority in Christ and needed to use it.
Matthew 17:20 says, “If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” I have truly stood on this scripture, and I have seen God miraculously work things out. I have also stood on it, and nothing changed. Does that mean His word is not true? Of course not.
I have heard people put down brothers and sisters in Christ for their lack of faith, but what if the problem with their prayer getting answered isn’t their faith? What if the situation is God’s sovereign will for their life at that time to accomplish His will? We know that all things work together for our good according to God’s word. Maybe that trial someone can’t pray away, for perceived lack of faith, ends up bringing a lost person to Christ. Maybe their faithfulness to God during the storm they are going through is a witness to others.
There are several examples in the Bible that show the Lord did not always answer prayers the way His people wanted. He often had a different plan. Let’s look at a few.
Jesus had given the disciples authority and power over all unclean spirits (Mark 6:7). They had cast demons out of many people before, yet in Mark 9:14-29, they were unable to cast a demon out of a young boy. When they asked Jesus why they couldn’t, He replied in verse 29, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Another example is given in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9: Paul stated, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger from Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.” There are many differing opinions on what this was: a physical, perhaps spiritual, or even a mental attack from Satan to harass Paul. Paul said that he pleaded with the Lord three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. Did God take it away? No, He didn’t. In verse 9, God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul accepted this as the Lord’s will concerning him, and he said, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Perhaps the ultimate example of a prayer for deliverance from a trial was our Lord and Savior, Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane before He was crucified. In Matthew 26:39, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Again, in Matthew 26:42, Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” In Matthew 26:44, the Word says, He left and went away once more and prayed a third time, saying the same thing. Jesus put aside his fleshly desire to not suffer for the greater good of all humanity. Just think what condition we would be in today if Jesus had not voluntarily laid down His life to do the Father’s will. We would have no hope, and hell would be our destiny.
1 John 5:14-15 says, And this is the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, he heareth us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Did you catch the “according to his will” part? God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Faith doesn’t mean that God will always answer our prayers the way we desire. Faith means trusting Him even when we don’t understand His plan. We must stand firm on His Word, believe in His power, and use the authority He has given us through Christ, but we must also be willing to surrender our desires to His perfect will. Sometimes God moves the mountain, and sometimes He gives us the strength to climb it. Whatever we face, His grace is sufficient, His promises remain true, and His love never fails. We may not always understand God’s ways, but we can always trust Him.
Scriptures to encourage you when trials come your way:
- Psalm 34:19
- James 1:12
- 2 Corinthians 12:10
- Psalm 22:24
- James1:2-3
- Romans 5:3-4
Leave a Reply