Prayer and faith are tricky issues for me these days. Admittedly prayer has been tricky for a very long time, maybe even since my dad got cancer when I was 17. But it's proving especially troublesome these days.
The people I'm around at church and in extended family pray so assuredly, so confidently, that many would say they're showing great faith. But how do they know the mind of God? And what happens when things don't turn out the way they've prayed? Even Jesus prayed, "Remove this cup from me if it's possible, but your will be done." And as we all know, the cup of suffering -- at least in terms of physical pain and death -- was not removed from him. He still was crucified.
So how come more of our prayers aren't worded likewise? Why don't folks admit that what they're asking for is what they want, and add that in their finite understanding, they think it's what God might want too but His will be done. And for that matter, I feel like Ike what I (and many others) should be praying perhaps more than anything is for grace to accept whatever God answers and discernment to know the difference between a roadblock and a "no."
The prayers of my church are so forceful as they pray especially for physical healing, and sometimes I can hardly stand to listen. It's not that I disbelieve in miraculous or medicinal healing. But what of all the ailments that remain? What of the deaths due to cancer?
Additionally the prayers of family are often just as forceful but regarding things like direction and next steps. Again, what of the "closed doors"? Or even the open doors that end up causing so much pain and dysfunction? Must we step through a door simply because it's open and we prayed that it be so?
When I see someone crying out, weeping real tears, because things didn't go the way they trusted they would, prayed in great confidence they would, I have to question how we're going about this business of prayer. And in the meantime, I admit it: it's hard for me to pray with others.
The people I'm around at church and in extended family pray so assuredly, so confidently, that many would say they're showing great faith. But how do they know the mind of God? And what happens when things don't turn out the way they've prayed? Even Jesus prayed, "Remove this cup from me if it's possible, but your will be done." And as we all know, the cup of suffering -- at least in terms of physical pain and death -- was not removed from him. He still was crucified.
So how come more of our prayers aren't worded likewise? Why don't folks admit that what they're asking for is what they want, and add that in their finite understanding, they think it's what God might want too but His will be done. And for that matter, I feel like Ike what I (and many others) should be praying perhaps more than anything is for grace to accept whatever God answers and discernment to know the difference between a roadblock and a "no."
The prayers of my church are so forceful as they pray especially for physical healing, and sometimes I can hardly stand to listen. It's not that I disbelieve in miraculous or medicinal healing. But what of all the ailments that remain? What of the deaths due to cancer?
Additionally the prayers of family are often just as forceful but regarding things like direction and next steps. Again, what of the "closed doors"? Or even the open doors that end up causing so much pain and dysfunction? Must we step through a door simply because it's open and we prayed that it be so?
When I see someone crying out, weeping real tears, because things didn't go the way they trusted they would, prayed in great confidence they would, I have to question how we're going about this business of prayer. And in the meantime, I admit it: it's hard for me to pray with others.
1 comment:
Mom, I feel you. I've asked these questions so many times, especially the one regarding discernment. I don't know if I have an answer for you, but I can say that you're not alone. It's so hard to know whether or not God is telling you no, or whether he's just testing your faith...
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