Essay:It's Not Your Fault—But Have You Prayed About It? (Nehemiah Maxwell)

It's Not Your Fault—But Have You Prayed About It?

A Biblical Reflection by Rev. Nehemiah Maxwell

Introduction: When the Obstacle Is Not Our Fault

There are times in the Christian life when we encounter difficulties that are not of our own making. Someone else's decisions may affect us. Circumstances beyond our control may delay our plans. Opposition may arise just when we are trying to do what we believe God has called us to do.

When these things happen, it is natural to say, "Well, it isn't my fault. I've done everything I know to do. I'm living for the Lord, attending church, and trying to obey His Word. When God is ready, He will work things out."

There is truth in trusting God's timing. Scripture teaches us to wait patiently upon the Lord. But there is another side to this matter that deserves our attention.

Just because an obstacle is not our fault does not mean we have no responsibility to seek God concerning it.

Could it be that sometimes we accept circumstances that we should be bringing before God in earnest prayer? Could we be confusing patient faith with passive resignation?

These questions deserve serious consideration, especially when the obstacle concerns something we believe God has called us to accomplish.

Moses and the Red Sea: When God Says Go Forward

Consider the experience of Moses and the children of Israel.

God had called Moses to confront Pharaoh and lead His people out of Egypt. Moses initially hesitated, but eventually obeyed. Through mighty signs and wonders, God delivered Israel from Egyptian bondage.

Yet their difficulties did not end when they left Egypt.

In Exodus 14, the Israelites found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's approaching army. They had followed God's direction, but now faced what appeared to be an impossible situation.

Moses could not part the sea through his own power. Neither could the Israelites defeat Pharaoh's army by their own strength.

But God had not brought them out of Egypt simply to abandon them at the water's edge.

The Lord said to Moses:

"Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward." — Exodus 14:15 (KJV)

What a remarkable instruction!

The sea was still before them. The enemy was still behind them. Yet God commanded them to move forward.

God then instructed Moses to stretch out his rod over the sea, and the Lord opened a path through the waters.

The lesson is not that believers should rush ahead without seeking God's direction. Rather, it is that an obstacle does not necessarily mean God's purpose has ended.

When God calls us forward, we must not allow the size of the obstacle to become greater in our minds than the power of the One who called us.

There is also an important distinction concerning Israel's later forty years in the wilderness. According to Numbers 13–14, that prolonged wandering resulted from the people's unbelief and rebellion. It was not simply an unavoidable delay imposed by circumstances.

Moses had to bear the burden of leading people whose decisions affected the entire nation. Yet throughout his leadership, he repeatedly turned to God in prayer and intercession.

His example reminds us that even when other people contribute to our difficulties, we must continue seeking God's direction.

Nehemiah: Prayer That Leads to Action

Another powerful example is found in the book of Nehemiah.

When Nehemiah learned that Jerusalem's walls were broken down and its gates burned, he was deeply troubled.

He had not personally caused Jerusalem's destruction. He was living far away, serving as cupbearer to the Persian king.

He could have reasoned that the situation was beyond his responsibility.

But notice his response:

"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven." — Nehemiah 1:4 (KJV)

Nehemiah did not begin by blaming others. Neither did he simply accept the situation as something that could never change.

He prayed. He fasted. He confessed sin and sought God's favor.

Then, when the opportunity came, he approached the king and requested permission to go to Jerusalem.

God granted him favor, and the work of rebuilding began.

But even then, opposition arose.

Nehemiah and the builders faced threats from those who wanted the work stopped.

Their response is especially instructive:

"Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them." — Nehemiah 4:9 (KJV)

Notice the balance.

They prayed, and they set a watch.

They trusted God, but they also took responsible action.

They did not abandon the work because opposition appeared. Nor did they presume that prayer meant they had nothing further to do.

Their faith expressed itself through both dependence upon God and obedience to the task before them.

This is an important lesson for believers today.

Paul: When the Enemy Hinders the Work

The apostle Paul also experienced opposition that interfered with his ministry.

Writing to the Thessalonian believers, he declared:

"Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." — 1 Thessalonians 2:18 (KJV)

Paul wanted to visit the believers, but something prevented him.

Notice that Paul did not automatically interpret the hindrance as evidence that he had misunderstood his calling.

He recognized that opposition could arise even while he was faithfully serving Christ.

The Scriptures do not explain exactly how this particular hindrance was resolved. Nevertheless, Paul's wider ministry demonstrates his determination to continue serving God despite hardship.

In Colossians 4:3, while imprisoned, Paul asked believers to pray:

"Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds." — Colossians 4:3 (KJV)

Think about that.

Paul was in bonds, yet he was asking God to open a door.

He could not simply remove his own chains. But he understood that his circumstances did not place God's power beyond reach.

Rather than allowing imprisonment to become the final word concerning his ministry, he continued seeking opportunities to proclaim Christ.

A closed door should not automatically become the end of our prayers.

Sometimes God opens that door. Sometimes He leads us to another. And sometimes He strengthens us to remain faithful in circumstances that do not immediately change.

But in every case, our dependence upon Him remains essential.

Waiting on God Is Not the Same as Giving Up

The Bible repeatedly encourages believers to wait upon the Lord.

Psalm 27:14 declares:

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." — Psalm 27:14 (KJV)

Waiting on God is an expression of faith. It acknowledges that His wisdom is greater than ours and that His timing cannot be controlled by human desires.

However, biblical waiting should not be confused with spiritual indifference.

A believer may sincerely say, "God knows my situation."

And indeed, He does.

But the fact that God already knows our needs does not make prayer unnecessary.

Jesus Himself taught His disciples to pray, even though the Father knows what they need before they ask Him (Matthew 6:8–9).

God's knowledge of our circumstances is not a reason to remain silent. It is a reason to approach Him with confidence.

There is a difference between saying, "Lord, I trust You with this situation," and saying, "There is nothing more I can do, so I will simply stop seeking You about it."

The first expresses dependence upon God.

The second may, in some circumstances, reveal that we have quietly surrendered to discouragement.

Of course, not every delay is evidence of spiritual passivity. Sometimes God genuinely calls His people to wait, endure, or accept a limitation.

The important question is whether we are continuing to seek His will rather than merely assuming that our present circumstances must remain unchanged.

Prayer, Fasting, and Spiritual Warfare

Christians are reminded that their struggles are not always limited to what can be seen.

Ephesians 6:12 declares:

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." — Ephesians 6:12 (KJV)

This does not mean every difficulty is caused directly by Satan. Some obstacles arise from ordinary human decisions, natural limitations, or the consequences of living in a fallen world.

Nevertheless, Scripture teaches believers to remain spiritually alert.

Prayer is not merely something we do after every other possibility has failed. It is part of our continuing fellowship with God and our dependence upon His strength.

Fasting may also accompany earnest prayer, as demonstrated by Nehemiah, Esther, and others throughout Scripture.

Yet neither prayer nor fasting should be treated as a technique for forcing God to give us what we want.

Their purpose is not to control God, but to humble ourselves before Him, seek His will, and depend upon His grace.

When opposition arises, we should not automatically conclude that defeat is inevitable.

Instead, we can bring the matter before the Lord:

"Father, You know what You have placed before me. You see the difficulties that stand in the way. I cannot overcome them through my own strength. If this is Your will, open the door, remove what must be removed, and show me what You would have me do. Give me the courage to obey You."

Such prayer recognizes both God's power and our responsibility to follow His direction.

What If God Does Not Remove the Obstacle?

An important question remains.

What happens when we pray earnestly, perhaps even fast, and the obstacle does not disappear?

Does that mean our faith is insufficient?

Not necessarily.

The apostle Paul provides an important example in 2 Corinthians 12:7–10.

Paul prayed three times that a particular affliction, which he described as a thorn in the flesh, would depart from him.

But God's answer was not the removal Paul requested.

Instead, the Lord told him:

"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." — 2 Corinthians 12:9 (KJV)

This reminds us that God's answers are not always what we expect.

Sometimes He removes the obstacle.

Sometimes He provides another path.

Sometimes He gives us the grace to endure what remains.

And sometimes a closed door requires us to reconsider whether we have correctly understood His direction.

Faith does not mean insisting that God must accomplish our plans exactly as we have imagined them.

It means continuing to trust and obey Him, even when His answer differs from our expectations.

The responsibility of the believer is faithfulness. The outcome belongs to God.

When "It's Not My Fault" Becomes an Excuse

There is another matter worth examining.

Imagine a believer who sincerely believes God has called him to serve in a particular ministry.

He prepares himself. He makes the necessary arrangements. He travels to the place where he believes God wants him to work.

But when he arrives, opposition arises.

People refuse to cooperate. Opportunities disappear. Circumstances become difficult.

Eventually, he returns home.

When others ask what happened, he explains, "I was willing to do the work, but the people would not allow it. It wasn't my fault."

And perhaps he is correct.

Perhaps the opposition truly was beyond his control.

But there is another question worth asking:

Did he earnestly seek God concerning the obstacle before concluding that the work could not continue?

Did he ask God for wisdom?

Did he pray for another opportunity?

Did he seek to understand whether God wanted him to persevere, change his approach, wait, or move elsewhere?

We must be careful not to judge another believer's circumstances without knowing the full story. There are times when leaving a difficult situation is the wise and obedient decision.

Nevertheless, the illustration raises an important principle.

Being free from blame does not necessarily mean we have exhausted our responsibility.

We may not be responsible for creating the obstacle, but we are still responsible for how we respond to it.

James 1:5 reminds believers to ask God for wisdom.

And Philippians 4:6 teaches us to bring our requests before Him through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

We should never allow the words "It's not my fault" to become an excuse for neglecting the very One who can guide us through the difficulty.

Finishing What God Has Called Us to Do

The Christian life is not simply about avoiding wrongdoing. It is also about faithfully responding to God's calling.

The apostle Paul wrote:

"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." — 2 Timothy 4:7 (KJV)

Paul's words remind us that the Christian journey requires perseverance.

There will be opposition, disappointment, delays, and circumstances we cannot control.

But we must not allow these things to make us careless concerning the work God has entrusted to us.

At the same time, finishing our course does not mean accomplishing every goal we have personally set. It means remaining faithful to Christ and His will for our lives.

Some assignments may end differently than we expected. Some doors may remain closed. Some prayers may be answered in ways we do not immediately understand.

Yet none of these realities should discourage us from seeking God.

We are called to pray, trust, obey, and persevere.

Conclusion: Take the Obstacle Before the Lord

There are things in life that genuinely are not our fault.

We may suffer because of another person's decisions. We may encounter opposition while doing what is right. We may find ourselves facing circumstances that human strength cannot change.

But we should remember this:

Just because the obstacle is not our fault does not mean we should stop seeking God concerning it.

We must guard against confusing patience with passivity, or surrender to God's will with surrender to discouragement.

If God has called us to a work, let us continue seeking His guidance.

If a door is closed, let us pray.

If opposition arises, let us seek His wisdom.

If we must wait, let us wait faithfully.

And if God tells us to move forward, let us obey.

The Lord may remove the obstacle, provide another way, or give us strength to endure. Whatever His answer, we should remain dependent upon Him.

The question is not merely whether we caused the difficulty.

The deeper question is whether we have faithfully brought it before the Lord.

Do not let "It's not my fault" become the final word when there is still a God in heaven whom we can seek in prayer.

Related Bible Passages

• Exodus 14:10–31 — Israel at the Red Sea
• Numbers 13–14 — Israel's unbelief in the wilderness
• Nehemiah 1:1–11 — Nehemiah's prayer and fasting
• Nehemiah 4:7–9 — Prayer and watchfulness during opposition
• Psalm 27:14 — Waiting upon the Lord
• Matthew 6:8–13 — Jesus' teaching on prayer
• 1 Thessalonians 2:17–18 — Paul describes a hindrance
• 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 — God's grace in weakness
• Ephesians 6:10–18 — Spiritual warfare and prayer
• Colossians 4:2–4 — Praying for open doors
• James 1:5 — Asking God for wisdom
• 2 Timothy 4:7 — Finishing the course

Related Topics

• Prayer
• Living as a Christian
• Faith
• Christian ministry

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Written by Rev. Nehemiah Maxwell. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (KJV).