Luke 22:31-32

31 "Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat;

32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."

Have you ever had a problem that only God could solve? How do you feel when He DOESN’T solve it?! Let’s say you’ve learned how to pray, and you’re depending on all the promises which He has made to you that are in the Word of God. But still the problem stays!

We have to realize that if God doesn’t solve a problem, then He means for you to go through it depending on Him. There is always a lesson to be learned!

Paul gives us a great example of God not answering his prayer.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me -- to keep me from exalting myself! (Don’t think I’m saying that I have a messenger of Satan tormenting me – I seriously doubt that I would merit his personal attention!)

There is a great deal of speculation about what Paul’s thorn in the flesh was. It could have been a physical impairment, an unbelieving wife, an illness, or any number of other things. It really doesn’t matter what it was! We only need to know that it bothered Paul so much that he BEGGED for its removal:

8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.

Is it just me, or is this something you can identify with? Have you ever asked God to solve a problem, and gotten no reply at all? You have to remember that Paul was a truly mature believer! He approached God with absolute faith that He was both able and willing to remove Paul’s thorn. But God ignored Paul 3 times!

I can imagine that Paul was frustrated with God! “Come on, God, how can you let me continue to suffer this problem when I’m busy doing Your will?!” I think Paul finally realized that if God doesn’t solve the problem, it’s because the problem has some benefit in it for him. This is the conclusion he reaches:

9 And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Sometimes God lets us suffer just to keep us humble, and to make us remember that we are completely dependent on Him alone. God let Paul continue to suffer, to remind him (and consequently everyone who reads Corinthians!) that the only power that mattered was God’s power!

So when you have a problem that God is able to solve (oh, wait – that’s ALL problems!), and He doesn’t, then the only conclusion you can reach is that there is some benefit for you in going through the problem!

1 Corinthians 10:13

13 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

This may be something that is hard to take. It may sound difficult. But we need to reach the same conclusion that Peter did. Jesus was giving a message about “eating His flesh” and “drinking His blood.” Here’s what happens next:

John 6:66-68

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew and were not walking with Him anymore.

67 So Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?"

68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You {alone} have words of eternal life.

Obviously there is someone who is on this list (besides me!) who has a problem that is trying to overwhelm them. Don’t be one of the disciples who left! Where else are you going to go?

What is it that we need to do?

1 Peter 5:7

7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

I apologize. I’ve let my own bag of rocks weigh me down. But I’ve reached a decision: I’m going to place my bag of rocks at the foot of the cross. Join me!