One of the most popular Bible verses is Philippians 4:13: "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." It is really a beautiful and comforting verse until you begin to dig into it. You may be thinking, ‘what’s there to dig into?’ It’s straightforward that with Christ, I can do all things. But look at the context and unpack the "all".
Oftentimes, when we pray the Phil 4:13 verse, we are in high spirits. We mostly take it and applied it to the good things that we want to happen. But the thing is, the "all" in Phil 4:13 isn't only talking about the good things. In Phil 4:12, Paul says, "I have learned the secret [this secret is Phil 4:13] of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need."
So, do you realize that "all" could include being wronged by someone you trusted? Not getting that job? Enduring a difficult season, sometimes without a clear why? Yeah, it includes all that and more. It, of course, includes the good things too, but no one ever has a problem with too many good things happening to them, right?
My point is, oftentimes, we are not ready for the prayers we pray because we don’t quite understand what they entail. So, when God starts answering them, we complain. We feel betrayed because we think He’s doing the total opposite of what we asked. Thus, we wonder, how can a good God do us like that?
But that’s the thing. He is a good God from whom every good and perfect gift comes (James 1:17). It’s not that He didn’t hear you. He heard you, loud and clear. He is just a sovereign God who will not be rushed. He answers when and how He wants, but we can take confidence in that "He does all things well" (Mark 7:37). So, may we always trust Him and pray for our wills to align with His!
Oh, by the way, if you're enduring what seems like the opposite of what you prayed for, pray for open eyes. You may already be walking into your answered prayers without knowing it!
This article is spot on.