Supporting Scriptures

• Luke 18:1-8: Will and Marie discuss the parable of the persistent widow, highlighting the question of whether the Son of Man will find “faith on the earth” when He returns.
• Matthew 25:21: They touch on the concept of faithfulness, referencing the “Well done, good and faithful servant” passage.
• 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: A major part of the discussion focuses on Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” and God’s response: “My grace is sufficient for thee”.
• Job 2:6 & 42:12: They look at the story of Job to show how God allows testing but also provides ultimate deliverance.

Main Points

• Don’t Give Up Too Soon: Will starts off by noting that we often “toss in the towel” prematurely when God doesn’t answer prayers exactly how or when we want.
• Trial vs. Chastisement: A big part of their chat is trying to figure out the difference between a trial (God building you up) and chastisement (God correcting you). They admit it’s not always obvious, but suggest that even correction is a form of love.
• Saving Faith vs. Faithfulness: They ponder what Jesus meant by finding “faith” on earth. Is it just “saving faith” (believing in Him), or is it “faithfulness” (staying the course over the long haul)?. They conclude you really need both to stay steadfast.
• The “Thorn” and the “Nudge”: Using Paul as an example, they discuss how God sometimes leaves a “thorn in the flesh” to keep us humble and to show that His strength is perfected in our weakness. Marie shares personally about being “disheartened” by health challenges after years of being well, but finding strength in these scriptures.
• The Parenting Analogy: They compare God’s discipline to a parent forcing a child to take medicine or stay still for a cast. It’s unpleasant and even painful in the moment, but it’s the only way to get the “leg to set right” so the child can eventually run and play again.
• The Thousand Ways to Go: Will brings up a sobering local story about a stray bullet going through a neighbor’s window to highlight that life is fragile. He emphasizes that since we don’t know what tomorrow holds, our focus has to be on staying faithful today.

Overall Message

Will and Marie’s big takeaway is a shift in focus. Instead of asking, “Will God answer my prayer?” the real question is, “Will I still be praying when He does?”. They encourage us to “gird up the loins of our minds” and realize that whether God is delivering us from a situation or carrying us through it, His grace is enough to sustain us.

It can be tough to keep the faith when you’re in the middle of a “thorn” or a silent season. Here are some reflection questions to help you process Will and Marie Robinson’s discussion on God’s presence in the hard times:

Reflection Questions:

• The “Towel” Factor: Will mentioned that we often “toss in the towel” because God doesn’t answer on our timeline. Is there a specific prayer you’ve stopped praying lately because it felt like nothing was happening?
• Distinguishing the Season: Will and Marie talked about the difference between a “test” and “chastisement”. Looking at your current struggles, do you feel like God is correcting a specific behavior, or is He building your spiritual “muscle” for something ahead?
• Grace in the Gap: Marie spoke candidly about being “disheartened” by health challenges. When you feel physically or emotionally weak, do you find it harder to believe that God’s grace is “sufficient,” or does that weakness actually drive you closer to Him?
• The Parental Perspective: Think about the analogy of a child needing medicine or a cast to heal. Can you look back at a past “unpleasant” season and see how it actually kept you from “destroying yourself” or helped you grow into a better version of yourself?
• The Big Question: Will posed the sobering question: “Will we still be praying when He answers?”. If your current situation doesn’t change for another month—or even a year—what practical steps can you take to remain “faithful” in the waiting?