When God Answers in Unexpected Ways (28/11/2019)
By Pastor Aggrey Soyekwo
Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” – NIV
Man was created by God in His image, perfect and to function as Himself. But the entry of sin corrupted the image of God in man. The natural inclination of man in his thoughts, decisions and actions tended more towards evil than to the righteous nature of God in Whose image he was made. Man fell short of God’s glory. That’s how man’s thoughts and ways became very different from God’s ways as the heavens are higher than rhe earth. But in Christ, the indwelling Holy Spirit reveals to us the mind and the will of God to enable us align our ways to God.
It’s this affected nature that makes us oftentimes ask for things from God amiss. To the best of our understanding, what, and how we ask God is the best. But according to God Who searches motives and intentions of our hearts, we could be out of His will, timing and purpose, because our ways are not aligned to His. And so He will answer in ways we didn’t expect. Sometimes He is silent, delays to say anything, or answers in ways we never thought about. At times we dont even know He answered because our minds expected answers in a particular way, and it came in a totally different manner. God does this inline with His will, bigger purpose and timing.
God answers every prayer to Him. But in His way. Many, complain, give up and miss out His blessings altogether when God doesn’t respond the way they thought. Israel was expecting the Messiah. But when Jesus came in ways they didn’t expect, they rejected Him and to date, some are still waiting! As we pray, let’s allow His will be done and be sensitive enough to discern when He answers, even in unexpected ways.
Romans 8:26-27 “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will.”
Shalom children of God.