SteveR Loc: Michigan

Some time ago, the question came up as to why God did not answer Paul's prayers. Three times Paul prayed to God to take away his "thorn in the flesh." Biblical scholars conjecture that this was Paul's eyesight, because elsewhere he talks about seeing as though he were looking through thick glass. Instead of answering Paul's prayer as he would have wished, God said, "my Grace is sufficient for you."

Now just what does that mean? "My Grace is sufficient for you?"

Despite Paul's vision problems, he was able, through scribes, to continue to write letters to Churches that became part of the New Testament and changed the world. On his way to Rome, he was bitten by a poisonous viper, but survived. God's Will for Paul was not only to write what he did, but also to reach Rome which was his final destination. No difficulty in eyesight or poisonous snakes could thwart God's Will for Paul.

Indeed, Paul's eyesight problem was an inconvenience, and I'm sure being bitten by a poisonous snake was painful. God, however, in His Grace, and Power, brought Paul through it all to complete the work which God had for him. Who said life was going to be easy, even for God's servants? Read about Ignatius of Antioch, for instance. His story is told on one of the episodes of the Coliseum on the History Channel.

The lesson for believers in all of this is that, through all the trials and tribulations that we go through on this earth, God's Grace is sufficient for us. It is difficult at times. We go through grief when loved ones pass away. My wife and I lost our one in a million oldest daughter a year ago October 1st. Our oldest two daughters were born deaf. Our son was born with a minor heart defect which eventually led to four open heart surgeries and almost took his life. Others go through their own travails, but God will not give us more than we can handle. His Grace, if we know Him, is sufficient for us. He will get us through the travails and hurts of this life as His saints who serve Him. He is constantly present for us to turn to for strength. His Spirit is within us to give us the power to power through.

If YOU, as a believer in Jesus Christ, are going through hardship. Know that "His Grace is sufficient for you." Rely upon it. Have faith in the t***h that what He told Paul is true for you also.

If you do not believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, I do hope that this has, at least, helped to answer why, at times, God does not answer our prayers exactly as we would like them to be answered. Despite saying, "no," at times, God's Grace, nevertheless, will never be insufficient for the need for those who know and love Him.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

As noted.
No is an answer.

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

Doesn't UHH have a special section just for posts such as this? Just asking, as even though I don't buy into what you are offeringg, I really don't have a problem with you expressing your beliefs.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

As far as I know, it's the Attic. No religious or political posts are allowed in Chit-Chat. They get sent here. I've never known ANYTHING to get tossed out of the Attic.

Actually, this post is an answer to a question that somebody brought up in another thread. He asked why God didn't answer Paul's prayers. I thought about that question, and this was the answer I came up with, so it's actually a response to a previous question from the Attic.

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

You didn't need too, but thanks for explaining. I do believe that UHH has a "Christian" section, but I wouldn't suggest that you are required to post there, and it seems maybe the person you were answering might never have seen it there. Really wasn't trying to meddle.

One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID

Often you hear the question, why me? The answer, why not?

JRiepe Loc: Southern Illinois

I agree. I've often thought the same thing. If I was told I had three months to live at the most I naturally would be devastated but I wouldn't question why me. What have I done and who am I to feel I should be exempt from the suffering and devastation so many others have experienced.

SteveR Loc: Michigan

The point, though, is that for those who know Christ, God's Grace will be with them through these times. My daughter died last October 1st of a rare bile duct cancer which then spread to her liver. She lived a year and a half from diagnosis. Yes, she asked, "why, me?" as we all might. Her faith, though, that she would be with Jesus when she passed away gave her great comfort and strength. God's Grace was sufficient. Her biggest concern was leaving her boys behind.

soba1 Loc: Somewhere In So Ca

Thanks

soba1 Loc: Somewhere In So Ca

They do have a Christian photog section. But anything and everything goes in the Attic.

thom w Loc: San Jose, CA

Watching my wife die of cancer would make it very difficult for me to believe in the God of the bible. I already didn't believe, but if I had, I probably wouldn't know. Everybody dies, but at the end she was in extreme pain. It really broke my heart. Reminded me of when I worked on the play JB (based on Job) in high school.

slocumeddie Loc: Inside your head, again

Sigh.....

soba1 Loc: Somewhere In So Ca

Sorry for your loss........

SteveR Loc: Michigan

My daughter went through the same pain with tumors in her liver yet never wavered in her faith. There were times that they removed six litres of fluid from her abdomen. It got to the point that there were removing this fluid pretty regularly. When the pain became unbearable she would go into the ER and they would hang a bag of morphine. On top of all of this, she was diagnosed in March of '20. She lived in San Diego and CA closed down to out of state visitors. In May of '21 she did fly home for a visit to celebrate her birthday on the 23rd and mine on the 22nd. She started feeling bad during the week and went to the ER. She told them about receiving a morphine drip for pain relief, but all the gave her was a prescription for morphine pills which did not handle the pain as well. Not feeling well, she flew back to S.D. early. The day after she arrived, though, was a Sunday. All three of my children and my two grandchildren who live in the Dallas area gathered for dinner. We DID have one outstanding day with the family together.

I can understand your reactions to the suffering of the person you loved most in the world. The only thing that I can say is that pain and suffering are for man's own good. You might wonder how I can say that. What need would man have of God if they had been left in Paradise with all their needs met and no worries, illness or death. That might sound good to you, and some have said that God seems to be need, but neither is the case. God is above all else Holy and Good and we can only be Holy and Good by having a walk with Him. Living in a perfect Paradise without that relationship with God, well, would not really be Paradise at all. If you read the Genesis account, God walked daily with Adam and Eve in the Garden. What would the Garden be without God? Pain points us back to God. The anticipation and fear of death point us back to God.

I had one uncle who accepted Christ on his deathbed. He had, however, been married for 50 years to a Godly woman who suffered for years. She'd had three hip replacements on each hip and eventually lived the last few years of her life bedridden. Her loving example, however, turned him from the gruff, tough young man that I was somewhat aware of, to a pussycat in his later years. Her Godliness in her pain turned him to Christ.

These things are never easy, thom. To say the least. The whole point of my thread, though, is that with God, His Grace is sufficient, even in the most terrible times. You have my sincerest condolences on the loss of your wife and the pain she went through. I sincerely empathize with what you've been through and continue to go through. As do we. I can only pray that you can find peace.

bgate Loc: Texas

For the non-belivers, you have to ask yourself "who built this wondrous place we live in?