Scripture Reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
July 25, 2004
Have you ever prayed so hard for something, with all your heart, and never actually received it? Me, too. Have you ever had conversations with God about the same thing over and over again, and that part of your life seemed to get solved just like you and God had planned? Me, too. So what gives? What are the "right" things to ask God for?
Just Ask
"Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find", the verse from this week's gospel, has caused quite a little stir in my head. It is not that I don't believe in it -- I believe in it whole-heartedly. It is just that at the same time I also believe in unanswered prayers and God's will. The conundrum for me is whether these beliefs are paradoxical thoughts or just similar pieces of faith, with a twist.
Jesus' words this week are not just about asking God for things we need and want. They go a little bit deeper than that. They are about our faith -- a faith in which we believe that we are children of God, created in his image, and so very much loved by him. Having two little ones, I can easily relate to Jesus' analogy of a father giving his little ones what they need. Which begs me to ask, why do we so often forget that we are God's children? If I would provide anything my boys need, wouldn't God do the same for me?
The Answer is…
The answer: He has, but not always the way I asked for them and yet, sometimes, just the way I asked. What gives? It has to be faith. As a kid I used to pray for everything, and boy am I glad some of those prayers were not heard. It is what we like to call "unanswered prayers". It is the belief that God has a purpose for you and your life and that by not answering a particular prayer you are better served, and better able to serve.
As I have grown and matured, slightly, I actually include the possibility of the unanswered part of my prayer right up front. In following the example of our greatest role model, I always offer up that no matter what happens God's will shall be done. It is about faith. Knowing that God's will is greater than mine and knowing that I am here to do his will and be his light, makes it easier to offer the prayer up to him and accept the results.
Faith
So, are "ask and you shall receive" and "unanswered prayers" paradoxical? I don't think so. I know people whom I consider to be very faith-filled who have prayed very intensely and not had there exact prayers answered. I also know people who have had miraculous deeds occur in their lives. It is more about the faith of believing that we are a part of God's great plan, and that we have a very important part to play in it.
Don't be afraid to have faith and ask God for those things close to your heart. Remember also not to be afraid to accept how and when God chooses to respond to your prayers. Above all, let's try to follow Christ Jesus and offer up all our thoughts and prayer subject to God's will, knowing and believing that his plan is greater than ours.
Life Applications:
Do you believe that when you ask God for something he will answer you?
Do you have certain expectations for the way God answers your prayers?
How do you incorporate God's will into your prayers?
Copyright 2004 by Rod Hetherton
All rights reserved.
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