THANK GOD FOR UNANSWERED PRAYER - Christian Hope ...

(B)The second thing we notice in this passage is PAUL'S PRAYER.v. 8 “Concerning this thing (this “thorn-in-the-flesh”) I pleaded withthe LORD three times that it might depart from me.”In the original Greek “three times” indicates an action that was repeatedover and over again. Paul prayed over and over again that God wouldtake away his “thorn-in-the-flesh.”Perhaps when this problem first appeared, Paul thought, “No problem, I'lljust ask God to take it away from me............PROBLEM SOLVED!” Butnothing happened, so he prayed again! STILL NOTHING! And so heprayed again.......and again......and again.......AND PAUL'S PRAYERTURNED INTO “AN UNANSWERED PRAYER” AT LEAST IN THE SENSE THATGOD DIDN'T GIVE PAUL WHAT HE ASKED FOR.And that brings us to THE THIRD THING we see in this passage andthat is......(C)The third thing we see in this passage is GOD'S PROVISION.v.9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength ismade perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boastin my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”While GOD didn't respond the way Paul had hoped He would respond,GOD did answer Paul's prayer in a different way. Instead of “taking away”Paul's thorn -in-the-flesh, GOD gave him His all-sufficient grace andstrength to live with the infirmity.