I prayed about this particular course on campus. I knew I did not do too well in the examination. I even asked friends and pastors to pray along. I did not want a carryover. I figured God would show me mercy as his child. As it turned out, I still carried the course. I could not pray it away. But I saw God’s faithfulness through it all. It made me better, not bitter.
Friend, there are things you cannot pray away. The first place to begin your prayer adventure is to understand the will of God. Prayer is not gymnastics. Prayer is not bombarding heaven with numerous requests. Prayer is simply enforcing the revealed will of God (Matthew 6:10). Trying to pray against the will of God is like kicking against the pricks (Acts 9:5).
There are things God will not deliver us from. Rather, He would empower us to go through them (Matthew 26:39). Divine process cannot be boycotted. You can only receive grace to grow through it. No matter how desirous a waiting mother is to have a baby, nine months must be complete. It is not a problem. It is a process (James 1:4).
A lot of people have become lesser than their destiny because they always try to escape process. Can you imagine if Joseph had prayed away the prison experience? He would not have become the prime minister (Genesis 41:9-46). Can you imagine if God had prevented Daniel from going into the lions den? He would not have been able to bring a dimension of the knowledge of God to Babylon (Daniel 6:1-28).
If Hannah had her baby when she wanted to have him, she would have had a baby, but not a major prophet of the living God (1 Samuel 1:19-28). What if Paul did not go through the prison experiences? We may never have had some of the epistles today (Philippians 1:12-20). As you go through your waiting season, you need to be constantly reminded of the unfailing love of God (Romans 8:35-39).
The wilderness may be a difficult season, but it is meant to prepare you for the promised land. The wilderness is not to trap you. It is to try you (Deuteronomy 8:1-3, 1 Peter 4:12-14). It is to bring you to a point where you can handle what you are asking for. The will of God may not always look good, but it is always good. In the end, it would bring out God’s best in and for you (1 Corinthians 2:9). Remember, if you cannot pray it away, you can pray through it.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria