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Question 7
Bercot says we often pray for the wrong things because we see “in a hazy mirror,” and even Paul had requests denied (the “messenger of Satan”); how does that challenge the way you evaluate “unanswered prayer,” and what would it look like to trust God’s wisdom without becoming passive?
Another way to ask: If even Paul had prayers answered with a “no,” how should you think about unanswered prayer, and how can you trust God without giving up or doing nothing?

Direct Answer Bercot’s point challenges the assumption that “unanswered” equals “ignored” or “failed,” since even Paul was told “no” for his good. Trusting God’s wisdom means continuing to pray while accepting that God may deny or delay requests because we don’t fully know what is profitable.

Support from Transcript:

  • Bercot: “we do not know what we should pray for as we ought,” because “we see things in a hazy mirror.”
  • He notes: “God even turned down some of Paul’s prayer requests,” citing the “messenger of Satan” and God’s answer: “My grace is sufficient for you.”
  • He concludes: “none of us completely knows the things for which we should pray,” so “we need the Holy Spirit to make intercession for us.”
  • Honorius/Theodoret: “Do not ask to be delivered from affliction…Resign yourselves into his hands,” because God knows what is “profitable.”
  • Ambrosiaster: the Spirit “does not allow anything we ask for to happen before the proper time or against God’s wishes.”
Discussion Follow-ups What prayers do you treat as “must be answered my way”? How can you keep asking boldly while also saying, in practice, “You know what’s profitable better than I do”?

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