Recently, a friend going through a grievous trial asked the question, "If God is in control of everything and is going to do what He wants, then what is the point of prayer?" This wasn't a question asked out of anger. It was an honest imploring question from her heart as she wrestled with being prayerful, trusting His sovereignty and ultimate decision, and trying her hardest to please her heavenly Father. The dilemma was this: she believed that there were many promises that pointed towards a certain outcome that she desired, but she also knew that sometimes God answers in ways that aren't how we believe they should end. So she wanted to on one hand, believe with her whole heart in faith, that God was going to answer the way that she needed Him to, but she also wanted to leave room for Him to give a different answer and so she wondered, "Is that a lack of faith or is it an umbrella of trust in His character?"
How many of you have wrestled with these same questions? Maybe you didn't realize that you had until you read that and recognized it as truth. I am not going to try and pretend that I can give you an answer that satisfies all of these questions, because at the end of the day, God is God and we cannot possibly understand all of His ways. I can, however, suggest that although her heart was filled with many questions, that they actually indicate that her faith was quite strong regardless of the outcome of the situation. Her ultimate heart motive in this situation was to please Him. She desired more than anything for her heart, mind, and strength to all be in line with His will. God does not ask us to know everything or demand that we decode some magic combination in order for His will to be done in our lives as He so deems. He asks us to put our faith and trust in Him, seeking His Kingdom first, and then promises that all of these things will be added to us (Matthew 6:33). Is that not what she was doing? If you find yourself in a similar situation, is that not what you too are asked to do?
So back to the original question? "What is the point in praying then?" It depends really. If you have an unwavering solution to your problem that is crystal clear and that you have painted perfectly, then I'm not sure if there is a point. There is another type of prayer though, that may have a certain hope in mind, is filled with trust, but has left the framing to be finished by the Father. When You pray to your God in agreement to His Word, you release your hold on the situation. You release that control; that picture that you have painted of how it should look in the end. If God answers in a way that you didn't imagine, it doesn't shake your faith, because you know that the landscape He is creating is much more beautiful than anything you could have ever dreamt up, "...as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him-"- 1 Corinthians 2:9
Who is holding your life's paintbrush today?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."- Isaiah 55:8-9
9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."- Isaiah 55:8-9
Jesus turned around and, seeing her, He said, Take courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well. And at once the woman was restored to health. Matthew 9:12
So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.- Matthew 6:33
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.- Ephesians 2:10
However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him-1 Corinthians 2:9
I always thought the point of prayer (and obviously "the point" is very personal so everyone has their own point) was not to ask for "things" (PLEASE GOD GET ME THAT WINNING LOTTERY TICKET! I NEED THAT CADILLAC!) but to pray for clarity (PLEASE GOD HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE RIGHT PATH IS FOR ME TO TAKE...). In that case, whether or not God will "do what he wants" is not as important as the person in prayer opening a line of communication to gain an understanding of what it is that he wants... and then, as someone with free will, to make that choice. I, of course, am no expert though. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is so very true! What I am talking about though are things where there isn't a choice to make and you are praying for a desired outcome. An example of what I mean, would be if you find out that you have cancer and you pray for healing. You might wrestle with the knowledge that many believers have died of cancer while praying for a healing...so you know that He may not heal your cancer, but you desire to have the faith that He will and to simultaneously trust that regardless of whether He heals you on earth or chooses to take you Home, that He has answered your prayers. It is difficult sorting through these feelings and questioning whether or not you are acting in faith or fear that He won't answer. There are many promises in scripture to ensure that He will heal us and/or answer our prayers that we pray in full faith, but because He knows the entire story and holds the pen (when we allow Him to,) He may refrain from certain answers because there is just something that we aren't yet privy to. This is where our trust..and well faith too are ultimately tested.
ReplyDeleteA completely different perspective than I was thinking... I hope, in a case like that (or similar) that a person of faith is able to pray for strength, for wisdom from their doctors, and for peace in the hearts of everyone going through such an ordeal... :(
DeleteYes ma'am :)
ReplyDeleteThis is such an important subject! I feel certain that many trusting, people of Faith
ReplyDeletehave felt so betrayed when their prayers weren't answered in the way that they had hoped. When our youngest child fell so gravely ill, death almost certain, a life of struggle very certain, so many came to us in the hospital, to pray with us. They tried to instill hope, faith and a certain outcome, if only we "prayed right"! But, if the outcome was not complete healing or if God had chosen to take him Home, would that have meant that our Faith was weak or that we were somehow less in the eyes of GOD? That was the implication and a horrible struggle on top of the one we were already dealing with. In a way it was cruel to be struggling with that question while we were struggling to understand the whole situation, period! I remember thinking that if I were to pray the outcome that I wanted and fully expected my desire to be the outcome, where was I leaving room for God's Will? Of course, I wanted him to be healed completely. Surely I would be willing to shout from the rooftops the "Miracle" that God had done. I finally had to let go, tell God the desire of my heart, and let go of those desires to His Will. I believe that is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. It wasn't easy, especially with so many telling me that if I just had enough Faith, if I just prayed "right", God would give me the desires of my heart.
I remembered the story of Abraham walking up that mountain with his son and it became clear to me. Abraham certainly didn't desire that he should sacrifice his son, that would not be an outcome that he desired! But, he placed his FAITH in GOD, in GOD's Will. So, my husband and I walked up that mountain with Abraham. We gave our son to GOD. That was one of the hardest things we have ever done. Because in doing so, we knew that GOD might take him home. My Mother's heart cried out to God to give me Faith and HE held me in HIS arms while I suffered the horrors and uncertainties of what was to come.
HE has NEVER left us alone.
I have learned that praying for HIS WILL does bring me the desires of my heart, for my desire is HIS WILL. Letting go of what I thought and what others misunderstood to be the truth released me to have the FAITH that GOD's WILL was and will always be what is best. I CAN shout from the rooftops the "Miracles" that God has worked in my life! It might not have been how I pictured, but because HE loves me so much, HE allows me to see glimpses of how HIS PERFECT WILL has unfolded beautifully. My desires, My plan could have never compared to HIS plan. Simply put, I could never have come up with this plan in my wildest dreams! I have found that praying for "His Will" IS praying for my heart's desire!
Laura, if this makes no sense, please delete or translate it for me! I love your beautiful heart!
Are you kidding me?!?! You said that more beautifully than I could ever even begin to imagine!!!!!! That took my breath away because I know that story so well and it shaped my faith beginnings....you will never know how much your own walk up that mountain impacted those who watched. I love you so much!
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