unaswered prayers
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You are mistaken when you say that Paul's prayer was unanswered.
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 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.
Maybe it wasn't the answer he wanted, but God had a clear reason (that Paul was aware of) for giving the answer of NO.
6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 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.
Maybe it wasn't the answer he wanted, but God had a clear reason (that Paul was aware of) for giving the answer of NO.
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I'm a little confused. What do you mean that was not what Paul prayed?
.....
I have to admire that Paul accepted God's answer pretty well, and it was meaningful that God explained - He didn't have to but He knew it would help Paul to explain why.
If I were in Paul's shoes, I don't think I would have been that graceful! I'd probably try to reason with God right away, "Oh but Lord! Then I don't want to be conceited! Please help me and take this propensity to be conceited because of the revelations you gave me! Please???"
Meanwhile I would entirely miss the message and the experience of learning to be strong in God's strength despite my weakness. But Paul saw the brilliance in God's wisdom right away!
🦑
In the Bible, several prayers went unanswered or were met with a different outcome than expected. Here are a few notable examples:
1. Moses’ Prayer for Entry into the Promised Land
Moses prayed to God to allow him to enter the Promised Land after leading the Israelites through the wilderness. However, due to his disobedience at Meribah, God told him that he would not enter (Deuteronomy 3:23-27). Instead, Moses was allowed to see the land from a distance before his death.
2. King Saul’s Prayer for Guidance
Before his final battle, King Saul sought God’s guidance but received no answer. He then turned to a medium at Endor for help (1 Samuel 28:6). This indicates that his prayers were not answered because of his disobedience to God’s laws.
3. Jeremiah’s Plea for Mercy
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet pleads with God for the people of Israel, asking for mercy and deliverance from impending judgment. However, God responds that their fate is sealed due to their persistent sinfulness (Jeremiah 14:11-12).
4. Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
The Apostle Paul prayed three times for the removal of a “thorn in the flesh,” which is often interpreted as a physical ailment or a spiritual challenge. Instead of removing it, God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). This suggests that the prayer was answered, but not in the way Paul hoped.
5. The People’s Prayers in the Time of Judgment
During the Babylonian exile, the people of Judah cried out for help and deliverance, but God declared through the prophets that their sin had led to their judgment, and their prayers would not be heard (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14).
These examples illustrate that unanswered prayers in the Bible can stem from various reasons, including disobedience, God’s sovereign will, or the necessity of growth through trials.
…. Now that we got the Bible flex out-of-the-way. I’m interested in any real stories.
1. Moses’ Prayer for Entry into the Promised Land
Moses prayed to God to allow him to enter the Promised Land after leading the Israelites through the wilderness. However, due to his disobedience at Meribah, God told him that he would not enter (Deuteronomy 3:23-27). Instead, Moses was allowed to see the land from a distance before his death.
2. King Saul’s Prayer for Guidance
Before his final battle, King Saul sought God’s guidance but received no answer. He then turned to a medium at Endor for help (1 Samuel 28:6). This indicates that his prayers were not answered because of his disobedience to God’s laws.
3. Jeremiah’s Plea for Mercy
In the book of Jeremiah, the prophet pleads with God for the people of Israel, asking for mercy and deliverance from impending judgment. However, God responds that their fate is sealed due to their persistent sinfulness (Jeremiah 14:11-12).
4. Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh
The Apostle Paul prayed three times for the removal of a “thorn in the flesh,” which is often interpreted as a physical ailment or a spiritual challenge. Instead of removing it, God responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). This suggests that the prayer was answered, but not in the way Paul hoped.
5. The People’s Prayers in the Time of Judgment
During the Babylonian exile, the people of Judah cried out for help and deliverance, but God declared through the prophets that their sin had led to their judgment, and their prayers would not be heard (Jeremiah 7:16; 11:14).
These examples illustrate that unanswered prayers in the Bible can stem from various reasons, including disobedience, God’s sovereign will, or the necessity of growth through trials.
…. Now that we got the Bible flex out-of-the-way. I’m interested in any real stories.
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Paul's prayer was answered. God said, "No." That is an answer. God has three answers. "Yes", "No" and "Wait".
Nearly 30 years ago, my first wife and I separated then divorced. She moved to a new home and did not give me an address. It was illegal, but I could do nothing about it. That's the way Australian law worked then. I prayed that I would find my kids, to no avail. By God's grace, I accepted the situation.
Some 15 years later, I asked God to at least let me know how they were getting on. Buying a Bible from a local Christian bookshop revealed my ex's address. I went there immediately and got back in contact with my kids. So I had both a "no" and a "yes". God is amazing.
Nearly 30 years ago, my first wife and I separated then divorced. She moved to a new home and did not give me an address. It was illegal, but I could do nothing about it. That's the way Australian law worked then. I prayed that I would find my kids, to no avail. By God's grace, I accepted the situation.
Some 15 years later, I asked God to at least let me know how they were getting on. Buying a Bible from a local Christian bookshop revealed my ex's address. I went there immediately and got back in contact with my kids. So I had both a "no" and a "yes". God is amazing.
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I have pain that limits my job and life in my ankle. An eye problem. I live at home. I'm nearly broke monetarily. I am broke spiritually and mentally and emotionally in regards to I do not function properly anymore. I do not know how to be a person or what a person is supposed to be or do. I never have fitted in anywhere due to being from another nation or my accent. God has not helped with hardly any prayer I ever made. Only general insignificant ones like giving information on what the star of David was and if it was evil etc (it was recorded online as a solar eclipse with triangles in yellow flickering around the moon on indian TV-news etc). I am often angry at God for not doing anything "significant" and being "unhelpful".
I am also broken after I feel God left me fall into false teachings as I asked Him not to ever allow this as I prayed this often. I then ended up believing false teachings for about a year until new information came from another source, but the damage was done. The lack of confidence I have in God delivering anything "significant" now is too much to get over the "let-down" of being allowed to fall in the first place after the prayers never to do so. And to not be misled and be 100% clear without confusion delusion or error. So I covered all "bases" I thought. Apparently not or God simply did not deliver for no "known" reason.
I'm getting past the age of caring soon. The life is nearly over and dead due to the circumstances, and I know not what things God has as "treasures in heaven" because He does not tell us what they are. So I do not know if it is merely living like a sheep for eternity with no "life" only "eternal existance". Living is living, not existing (I never signed up to be a "bhudist monk", bible promises seemed more than this).
So, I am still waiting for a Job, love, purpose as I have not recieved resources to evangelise that I have asked for for years and seem "blocked" at every turn in every effort, as if God is forcing me to be akin to a feelingless "monk" doing "nothing", living "nothing". So this is my experience. I had more hope, and was a better more directional person before I was a christian. I could at least dream of a potential future, even if it would never happen, I did not know it would never happen, there was always hope. There was always exciting events or fun. Christian life is dull and empty unless you live in america with "happy clappy rich churches". it's an alone depressing hard life unless you become content with nothing, content with doing nothing, and content with going nowhere like a "detached meditating monk" etc.
I don't think I have any help for anyone except a leaflet to evangelise with, because if they ask me the benefits of being a christian, all I can say is, "you don't burn in fire for eternity, that's your lot, we do not know any more than that". No other person / teacher has a better answer for me so far.
I am also broken after I feel God left me fall into false teachings as I asked Him not to ever allow this as I prayed this often. I then ended up believing false teachings for about a year until new information came from another source, but the damage was done. The lack of confidence I have in God delivering anything "significant" now is too much to get over the "let-down" of being allowed to fall in the first place after the prayers never to do so. And to not be misled and be 100% clear without confusion delusion or error. So I covered all "bases" I thought. Apparently not or God simply did not deliver for no "known" reason.
I'm getting past the age of caring soon. The life is nearly over and dead due to the circumstances, and I know not what things God has as "treasures in heaven" because He does not tell us what they are. So I do not know if it is merely living like a sheep for eternity with no "life" only "eternal existance". Living is living, not existing (I never signed up to be a "bhudist monk", bible promises seemed more than this).
So, I am still waiting for a Job, love, purpose as I have not recieved resources to evangelise that I have asked for for years and seem "blocked" at every turn in every effort, as if God is forcing me to be akin to a feelingless "monk" doing "nothing", living "nothing". So this is my experience. I had more hope, and was a better more directional person before I was a christian. I could at least dream of a potential future, even if it would never happen, I did not know it would never happen, there was always hope. There was always exciting events or fun. Christian life is dull and empty unless you live in america with "happy clappy rich churches". it's an alone depressing hard life unless you become content with nothing, content with doing nothing, and content with going nowhere like a "detached meditating monk" etc.
I don't think I have any help for anyone except a leaflet to evangelise with, because if they ask me the benefits of being a christian, all I can say is, "you don't burn in fire for eternity, that's your lot, we do not know any more than that". No other person / teacher has a better answer for me so far.
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Brother, I tell you this with all honesty you must break the mentality of the curse. Those thoughts are caused by Satan you have to pull the prosperity of the Bible into existence through your faith. I would start praying for the Lord to give you peace in your heart first instead of a job. We must claim it. Whatever you are doing it’s clearly not working so you must do something different, something more radical, something more drastic, something to move the hand of God in your favor.. he wants to do it but something is blocking it. There’s an obstruction somewhere.
I saw a video online where someone prayed the Lords prayer 10,000 times and the 10,000 time he prayed it, The Lord answered his prayer….. just an example..
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Shout this out, for words are powerful, get on your knees… and do it until you cry.. and don’t stop until you get weary. He will answer you.
Heavenly Father,
I come before You today, claiming the peace You have promised in Your Word. Your Son, Jesus, said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” I claim this peace today, trusting in Your presence to guard my heart and mind.
Thank You, Lord, for the promise of peace through your Holy Spirit that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7). I ask that Your peace would fill my heart, calm my fears, and guide my steps, no matter the challenges I face. May I be a vessel of Your peace, bringing comfort and calm to those around me.
I claim it all in the mighty name of Jesus, I pray,
Amen.
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I get your point, but the issue is doing things like praying the Lords prayer 10000 times is merely self-re-programming. It is merely a way of coaching your brain to believe something although NOTHING has changed. You still have no job, still broken physically and mentally, still living at home, still with no power of prospects or direction. It is simply self-willed-wanton-re-programming in order to accept the misery you have without being miserable.
This is not "delivery" from God on prayer. This is self-making. Or self-help. I know I have no power of my own and that is why I ask Jesus and God the Father for help. Sometimes I miss a day but generally I have prayed for things to not keep me like I am. So, God has yet to deliver. It is not Satan that guides me, it is God not guiding me, or at least, being quiet whilst the devil talks. This is not delivery on prayer. It may work for you. But you are probably American and a first born who gets all the confidence and gifts of a firstborn whilst I as a second born am robbed of all. I am not being negative to you, this is simply the way I see it and God knows this. I have no power against my addictive craving mind that will not accept "nothingness" as a reward.
This is not "delivery" from God on prayer. This is self-making. Or self-help. I know I have no power of my own and that is why I ask Jesus and God the Father for help. Sometimes I miss a day but generally I have prayed for things to not keep me like I am. So, God has yet to deliver. It is not Satan that guides me, it is God not guiding me, or at least, being quiet whilst the devil talks. This is not delivery on prayer. It may work for you. But you are probably American and a first born who gets all the confidence and gifts of a firstborn whilst I as a second born am robbed of all. I am not being negative to you, this is simply the way I see it and God knows this. I have no power against my addictive craving mind that will not accept "nothingness" as a reward.
As mentioned to the previous person, this is self-manipulation, not delivery from God on prayer. Forcing myself to cry when I feel nothing but misery and futility is like asking a block of cement to bleed. It does not know how, and does not have the power to do so. It is not feeling like a human. My heart is crushed and grey, no hope in sight. Why would there be, God does not promise anything CLEARLY DEFINED. It says those who give will receive a 100fold in this life and the next spiritually and materially, but this does not obviously happen for anyone I know of except those who keep it, save it, work on earning money, and do a life of this because they were taught to do so by "sensible christian parents" or similar.
No other return have I seen except for a particular work God wants done. This is not 100 fold in this life. So I cannot see any return except eternal life and no-one knows what that is. Is it a sheep eating grass in a field, or a monk praising for eternity. No family, no excitement, no fun, no anything "human", only the unknown? I have no answers, and God has not given them to me. How can I pray for anything more than what I pray for if nothing turns up except a cheap bicycle, or insignificant stuff not saving anyone. No one in my family seems saved except a few in another country. It seems like a dead pointless life until heaven, and even then, what then?
No other return have I seen except for a particular work God wants done. This is not 100 fold in this life. So I cannot see any return except eternal life and no-one knows what that is. Is it a sheep eating grass in a field, or a monk praising for eternity. No family, no excitement, no fun, no anything "human", only the unknown? I have no answers, and God has not given them to me. How can I pray for anything more than what I pray for if nothing turns up except a cheap bicycle, or insignificant stuff not saving anyone. No one in my family seems saved except a few in another country. It seems like a dead pointless life until heaven, and even then, what then?
What are you talking about. Make sense. Abraham did not wait. He had Ishmael. He was a rich man like a king, he had slaves and an army. I have faith, I know God exists, but promises to deliver on prayer are a part of that faith. If you do not deliver until I die, you did not deliver in this life and the next, only the next. What use is delivery on help to be a better more productive more holy christian if it is when i am dead?
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I get your point, but it is not that I do not believe my prayers won't be answered, I was making factual statements of what has happened or not happened in regard to the persons request. But, no matter how much I try, yes my unwavering faith in delivery of prayer is poor due to not knowing if God will or will not due to lack of delivery in the past. Just "faking" a confidence in delivery to have more faith, leads me to be let down when it does not arrive.