Expect the Unexpected: An Encouragement to Pray
In the Book of James, the brother of Jesus tells the church something startling. He writes, “You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:2b). This means that there are blessings we have forfeited simply because we have not done the simple task of asking our Heavenly Father for them.
Here you may become excited thinking, “I want to receive the blessing I ask for, so I will ask!” and this may be true. You who ask in Christ’s name and for the purpose of His will may receive the very thing you ask for. But the Scriptures give reason for us to be excited about receiving blessings we did not ask for in response to our requests.
We need only look at God’s answer to a famous prayer of the apostle Paul’s to know that this is true. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes of a thorn that God placed in his flesh to keep him from becoming conceited (2 Cor 12:6-7) . Three times Paul pleads with the Lord to remove the thorn. Jesus gives His answer, but His answer is not yes, no, or maybe. He does not say, “Yes, I will remove the thorn,” he does not say “No, Paul, I will not remove the thorn,” nor does he say, “Maybe, Paul, you’ll just have to wait and see.” Instead, Jesus answers Paul’s request by giving him a precious portion of Scripture.
Paul did not receive what he asked for, but he received the words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - words that many Christians have held onto in the midst of trouble - words so dear to one of my friends that she has them tattooed on her forearm.
I ask, you, where did this precious verse come from? It came as a response to Paul’s prayer. Though Paul did not receive what he asked for, he did receive something. He received something that has been canonized and has blessed Christians since it was written. God is sovereign and James’ statement stands! - “You do not have, because you do not ask.” So I encourage, you - ask! Pray the will of God, for the glory of God, knowing that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
This post owes much of its insight to a sermon by Paul Washer
Here you may become excited thinking, “I want to receive the blessing I ask for, so I will ask!” and this may be true. You who ask in Christ’s name and for the purpose of His will may receive the very thing you ask for. But the Scriptures give reason for us to be excited about receiving blessings we did not ask for in response to our requests.
We need only look at God’s answer to a famous prayer of the apostle Paul’s to know that this is true. In Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church, Paul writes of a thorn that God placed in his flesh to keep him from becoming conceited (2 Cor 12:6-7) . Three times Paul pleads with the Lord to remove the thorn. Jesus gives His answer, but His answer is not yes, no, or maybe. He does not say, “Yes, I will remove the thorn,” he does not say “No, Paul, I will not remove the thorn,” nor does he say, “Maybe, Paul, you’ll just have to wait and see.” Instead, Jesus answers Paul’s request by giving him a precious portion of Scripture.
Paul did not receive what he asked for, but he received the words, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - words that many Christians have held onto in the midst of trouble - words so dear to one of my friends that she has them tattooed on her forearm.
I ask, you, where did this precious verse come from? It came as a response to Paul’s prayer. Though Paul did not receive what he asked for, he did receive something. He received something that has been canonized and has blessed Christians since it was written. God is sovereign and James’ statement stands! - “You do not have, because you do not ask.” So I encourage, you - ask! Pray the will of God, for the glory of God, knowing that He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
This post owes much of its insight to a sermon by Paul Washer
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