When God Answers … (Part 2)

So if I remember well we left off with me pondering how we view God’s responses to our prayers. I still believe this concept of a yes/no/not yet response by God is deeply flawed and yet that’s how many of us understand God to interact with us. This seems to contradict verses which say God wants to give us the desires of our hearts, where He says ask and it shall be given.

So how do we then understand this question of answers to our prayers? What should we expect when we make a request in prayer? I have had to look at this question from what I assume would be God’s perspective. When I go to Him in prayer, I assume He looks into it and responds appropriately. Now there lies the rub, what is appropriate and who determines it? My assumption is that it’s God who determines what is appropriate or not. If you take the earlier example of parenting, parents determine what is appropriate and at times it may mean breaking a child’s heart. He says in His Word that if we as humans would not give our children snakes when they want fish then how much more of Him who is without sin?

So what am I saying? I am saying, yes God responds to ALL our requests. I am also saying that God responds in a way that is appropriate for you, even if you do not understand it. I believe God loves us so much that He wants to make us happy and so, like any loving parent He will not deprive us that which He can provide. But even more importantly I believe God loves us so much that He wants to protect us and save us, even from ourselves. So when a request is received it is considered in the light of what is best for us at that point in time. I honestly believe that God always creates a balance between indulging us and protecting us at the same time. So what does that mean for my prayer requests? Do I then not ask for that which I desire and just leave it up to Him to do whatever He will do anyway? I don’t think so.

I think God still wants me to go to Him with my deepest desires. I think He still wants me to open up to Him about that which keeps me up at night. That’s how we connect. The closest friendships I have are with those friends that I can open up to, even though they will not always have solutions for my situations. I believe it’s the same with God. It’s about the communication and the relationship more than the request itself. In the Bible He also says we must let our requests be known to Him with thanksgiving. This means as you are making your request you thank God. You do not thank Him for succumbing to your demands! You also do not thank Him to manipulate or blackmail Him into giving in to you. You thank Him for you know He will respond to you in the most appropriate manner that will both indulge and protect you.

What I have learnt is to say “Thy will be done” when I pray. I may have my own ideas but what I want is for His will to be done in my life as it will ensure that I am both indulged and protected. What I have also learned is to say thank you every time I don’t get what I want. Its hard trust me but I have to trust that God always has my best interest at heart. So I have learnt to accept that the best possible outcome to my requests occurs ALL the time. For you see, the best possible outcome to my prayers cannot be that which I assume with my limited view of the big picture … it has to be that which the Sovereign God deems best for me. After all it does say in His Word that His answers are always YES and AMEN!

May you have a wonderful time sharing with God ALL the desires of your hearts in prayer, knowing that He will both indulge and protect you.