God’s Answer Isn’t What You Expected

2 Chronicles 1:11

And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king:

God’s promise to Solomon shows how He answers prayer. We often pray for God to do something, expecting God’s answer to come without us having to do anything. However, God’s answer to prayer is often an answer on how to do what we are asking for Him to supply. God‘s answer to prayer is often to show you how to work to get what you need. God told Solomon, if thou seek him, he will be found of thee. This phrase is a continuation of what God said to Solomon earlier in the verse. God said, And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him…. Notice, Solomon would find God AS he served Him.

Matthew 7:7 says, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: God says to ask, and it shall be given you. What is being given to us? Notice the next two illustrations are actions. Seeking and knocking are not inactive, but they are active. God’s answer is to show you how to seek and knock, which means God’s answer to my prayer is often to show me how to do what I am asking for so that I can receive it.

God illustrates this principle many times throughout the Scriptures. When the widow woman came to Elisha about getting out of debt to save her sons from being sold into slavery, Elisha told her to go borrow pots, pour oil into those pots, and go sell the oil. God’s answer for her to get out of debt involved a plan of action. When Naaman the leper came to Elisha to be healed, Elisha told him to go dip in the Jordan River seven times. When Naaman took action and did what he was told to do is when he found healing.

In 2 Chronicles 1:11, God gave Solomon wisdom AS he judged God’s people. You will notice that God gives wisdom and knowledge AS you go and serve God. You don't need wisdom to sit; you need wisdom and knowledge to serve. God’s promise to give wisdom and knowledge is found as you are do what God commands you to do as His will for your life. God gives answers to work and not to sit.

My friend, you are looking for the wrong answer to prayer. You are looking for an answer that you don't have to do anything, but God’s answers to prayers are always a plan of action on how to work to get what you need. You can pray for God to get you out of debt, but what you are really asking God to do is to give you all the money to get you out of debt. However, God gives you a plan of action to work so you can have the money to get out of debt.

Sometimes, a pastor prays for God to grow his church. This pastor’s prayer is that God miraculously sends people to his church without that pastor having to work. However, God’s answer will be to show that pastor how to work to reach the people in his city so that the church will grow.

God’s unexpected way of answering prayer is a plan of action on how to accomplish what you are praying for. Stop looking for God to answer your prayer by you doing nothing, but realize most of the time God’s answers to prayers are a plan of action on how to work to get what you are asking Him for.