Bible Studies

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One of the reasons God doesn’t answer prayer is that He has a higher purpose. In chapter 3 of Daniel, three men are told that they’ll be thrown into a fiery furnace if they don’t worship other gods. Do you think these guys prayed to get delivered from that situation? No doubt. But they actually had to stand in the furnace for a while.

What did Jesus do on the night He was arrested? He went into the garden and said, “Father, if it be your will, if there’s any way to let this cup pass from me, let it pass. But nevertheless, your will, your desires be done.” Sometimes we pray for deliverance and it doesn’t come. We have to go through the fire because God is preparing a higher purpose for us.

1 Peter 5:7-10 says:
7Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after we have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, stengthen, settle you.

We are to pray, cast our cares—give them to God—and wait diligently. It even tells us that we will suffer awhile. Yet we’re often praying, “Get me out of this, God. Right Now, God. Right Now!” But He says, “No, you’re staying there a while. I’m perfecting you, settling you, establishing you.” And it’s not that God wants you to suffer. In fact, He tells us to wait with a good attitude. That’s because it’s not the tribulation that perfects you. It’s you trusting in God and having faith in His word as you go through a situation that changes you. It settles you and causes you to believe in God when He does come through. He says, “Go through the storm. I’m changing you. I’m making you understand that you can trust me and endure, and walk in faith and love.”

In the next and final segment, we’ll look another reason doesn’t answer prayer: He has a better plan.

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