The Jesus of the Gospels sometimes answered questions in a way that puzzled people. Sometimes, it was His methods that stirred people up. At any rate, He is a picture of our Father who answers prayer.
And when it comes to prayer, we struggle a little bit. Because we don’t want our all-powerful, all-knowing God to do what’s best for us;
we want what we want.
We pray for solutions, don’t we?
If you’re like me, you switch into attorney mode and start pitching your case as to why your solution makes sense. “See God?” we say, trying desperately to convince Him that our way is better.
But Jesus sees past the solution of the problem, right into our souls. He knows what we need (not merely what we hope for). And He is fully invested in us (so much so that He would send His Son to be the perfect sacrifice for us). I believe He listens to our prayers, and I believe in the power of prayer; but, I strongly believe that, if God’s love is so strong, that He is letting us experience some of the pain associated with the problems of this life. Because He knows what’s best.
The Abraham that began a new nation would not be the same without having to offer his son, Isaac, on the altar.
The Joseph we know and love in Genesis 50:20 would have never existed without slavery or Potiphar’s wife.
Daniel’s greatest moments happened as a result of being in captivity.
And we are better for what we go through. As I’ve recently been studying the life of Joseph, I keep coming back to the idea of God’s involvement in Joseph’s life. Those were several years of pain and torture! I can’t imagine how hopeless it must have felt to be in jail, after being wrongly prosecuted. Wouldn’t you think that God had abandoned you? I hate to say it, but I would.
And all the while, God was writing His story! He sees us. Because He loves and is pursuing us! His plan is better and He loves us too much to leave us to our own devices! His ways are not our ways! Our solutions, helpful as they may seem, are NO MATCH for what God can do!
Might I suggest to you: You don’t want Jesus to merely answer your prayers. You want Him to mold you into the image of His Son.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
Psalm 121:1-2