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Carrying Everything to God in Prayer by Marian Van Til When I was child, as I heard Bible stories at home,in Sunday school and at school, I remember being intrigued and excited when I learned that God directly talked to many of the people in the Bible. And that in many instances, he also – or instead –sent angels to relay his messages. I was jealous of people like Noah, Abraham, Ja cob, Moses, the prophets, Mary and Joseph, and the many others with whom God talked directly, or to whom he sent angels as his messengers. My envy included Jesus’ disciples, who saw and heard and interacted with him every day in the flesh. How blessed they were to hear God’s voice through Jesus, or to see angels (despite the initial fear they always seemed to instill). My parents taught me to pray from the time I could barely talk, so I early developed some under standing of the fact that we can talk to God. And of course I was taught that God speaks to us through the Bible and through answered prayer. But that just didn’t seem like God “talking” to us as he did to people in the Bible. I was upset to be told that God didn’t choose to communicate with his people in that way in our time. (Sometimes Jesus actually does appear to people in our time, but I don’t recall those exceptions being discussed in our Reformed circles.) My parents assured me that God hears and answers our prayers, in Jesus’ name, through the Spirit. But that just didn’t seem in the same league as God talking directly with so many of the people in the Bible. As I got older, I naturally came to have a better understanding of God “speaking” to us through his Word and through means of our prayers. But I suspect I was not the only Christian child who was sorely disappointed in what my child-mind viewed as a second-rate form of communication with us on God’s part. It was a dilemma for me. I boldly, brash ly thought of God’s Word, and prayer, as less-than the-best ways for God to reveal himself and his will to us. But I was boldly, brashly wrong. INSTRUCTED IN HOW TO PRAY I think my parents had some inkling of how I felt, as they carefully, keenly, week by week, emphasized that the Bible is of utmost importance, the most precious gift that reveals all we need to know about God and ourselves. It is that because it is alive with God’s Spirit in the way no other book in the world is or can be. So we were taught to take the Bible very, very seriously. And within the Bible we see count less examples of how to pray – how to speak with God; and then to listen for his answers. We see the foremost example in Jesus himself, in the profound “high priestly prayer” in John 17 which he prayed shortly before his Passion; in his teaching his disciples to pray (“the Lord’s Prayer”); and in numerous incidents mentioned in the Gospels when Jesus “withdraws” to the wilderness or mountaintop to pray, alone. It’s amazing, when one thinks of it, that Jesus as the Son of God communicated with his Father in the same way as we are instructed. Prayer is a precious gift to us, yet it seems to me that in a certain way it was a handicap of sorts for our Savior, a part of his laying aside his glory for our sakes: as the second person of the Trinity before his Incarnation he was eternally in the most profound, intimate, loving communication with the Father and the Spirit. But on earth, for a time, having taken on our flesh, that changed: he prayed to his Father as we fragile human beings do. And he was heard; and in several instances also ministered to by angels. We too will be (are) heard. The book of James assures us, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective” (5:16, NIV; or “has great power as it is working,” ESV). So we need not doubt that God listens, hears and answers whenever we his people, made righteous in Christ, call to him. The other part of that verse in James, and the verse preceding it, has been particularly important to me of late, as I’ve continued to struggle with health issues, a now more serious problem with an uncertain future. James says: “...And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (The “and” that begins that quote speaks of calling the elders of the church to anoint the sick; a regular practice in our former Lutheran church but one I’ve rarely seen in Reformed churches – and a topic for another time.) WHEN YOU DON’T LIKE GOD’S ANSWER I’m sure that every one of you who are “righteous” have experienced answered prayer, whether for healing (physical, emotional or spiritual), or for spouse or children or job-related things, or anything else under God’s sun. Yet getting answers to prayer, from our point of view – the answers we want and believe we need – can seem complicated, even like a bit of a mine field. The quip “Be careful what you ask for, you might get it” has an element of truth. God may, and in my experience, often does, answer us in ways we not only weren’t expecting but don’t always like. Whenever that happens I must remind myself that he is God and I am not; that every single thing he does is right and good; that every good and perfect gift comes from him; and I must re-acknowledge to him that, as David says, “My times are in your hands” (Psalm 31). |
Sometimes Christ has a cross for us to bear that we’re not keen on bearing. (I’m feeling that way currently.) But our crosses pale in comparison to Jesus’ ultimate and literal cross-bearing (a good thing to think on frequently during this Lenten season). As the famous 19th century preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “If he carried a cross, what nobler burden would you desire? The Via Crucis is the way of safety; fear not to tread its thorny paths.... Submit your shoulder to his easy yoke.”
Further, when God’s answers don’t always please me, I need to rethink what I’m asking for, and how I’m asking. It is instructive that James calls on believers to first confess their sins (to each other, in fact!) before praying for each other and expecting to be healed. That confession removes stumbling blocks between us and God; and between us and others, if or when they are harmed by our sin. Prayer – the kind we can expect to be answered – also requires dedication, endurance, tenacity. That’s been a difficult one for me to remember (especially when it comes to prayers for healing). Perhaps that’s true for some of the rest of you also. We’re steeped in a society notorious for wanting – expecting – quick fixes. God does sometimes grant those in the form of miracles, which he does still perform today. But more frequently he responds to our prayers in his own time, often in the long-term, expecting us to keep praying, keep asking. Perhaps that’s where James’ observation that “you do not have because you do not ask” comes in. “Once and done” doesn’t apply. Coupled with that blunt statement by James is his further assertion that our prayers may also remain unanswered if we’re asking merely for things that make us feel good; then we’re asking with the wrong motives (James 4:3). REJOICE, PRAY, GIVE THANKS Jesus himself urges (commands?) us to persistently keep “knocking on heaven’s door.” The point of his parable of the widow and the unjust judge is that she keeps hounding the judge until he relents and gives her what she needs. And if an unjust judge will do that, how much more will the Judge of All the Earth do right! The Apostle Paul, too, tells to “pray without ceasing.” And to “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col. 4:2). I think this admonition from Paul sums it up: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” (1 Thess. 5:1618). This well-known hymn elaborates on Paul’s message. What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry, Everything to God in prayer! Oh, what peace we often forfeit, Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer! Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere? We should never be discouraged; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Can we find a friend so faithful, Who will all our sorrows share? Jesus knows our every weakness; Take it to the Lord in prayer. Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care? Precious Savior, still our refuge! Take it to the Lord in prayer. Do Thy friends despise forsake Thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer. In His arms He’ll take and shield thee Thou wilt find a solace there. |