I asked God to take away my habit. God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up. I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you. I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You must grow on your own! ,but I will prune you to make you fruitful. I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things. I asked God to give me the strength to cope with life’s challenges and to help me to see the Divine loving hand that is always upon me. God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Alright, I asked God to make 2008 a good year, to make it the year that I get a better job, address my personal issues, and over come my barriers. In fact I asked God to fix all my problems and to make this a trouble free year…and God said…No. but wait a minute, the scripture I read just a minute ago says all I have to do is ask, ask and it will be given to me. Isn’t that what the scripture said? Yes, but this passage and our prayers to God do not end with our requests, that is only the beginning.
This passage is not an illusion to God being like Santa who invites us to sit on his lap with the hopeful anticipation that our wishes will be granted. Rather Jesus is speaking about our relationship with God through our prayer life and our spiritual journey. Yes we are to ask, ours is a relational God. We are invited to lift up all that fills and is heavy upon our hearts, and that’s where the journey begins.
There are no unanswered prayers. The words “ask and it will be given, knock and the door shall open, search and you will find” appear in all four gospels. God is absolutely faithful to supply our deepest needs, but not necessarily our wants. Our Creator understands the earnestness of our prayers and thus responds to our greater good. Our challenge is to understand and accept Divine discernment. When we predetermine the outcome or become impatient with waiting, we limit our ability to experience the Holy Spirit at work in our lives. When we expect God’s answers to be overt and active, to bring solution where there is problem, and there is often disappointment, which we interpret as God saying no.
It is our call of faith not to expect direct response to our specific requests, rather it is for us to realize, participate, and give thanks for the Divine work in process. This is where the searching and knocking become part of our journey. Prayer has been described has the Divine within us appealing to the Divine above us. When we lift up our prayers, the answer often comes back, what are you going to do to turn your requests into reality? How are you going to participate in your spiritual journey? These words come to us as from a loving parent or counselor and these words are open ended. I think this is illustrated in the piece I read a moment ago.
I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No, because patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned. Patience is a virtue which, the Apostle Paul tells us is an out growth of love and is developed through our experiences, experiences in which the Divine walks with us every step of the way. I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No because I give you blessings; Happiness enjoyment and appreciation of theses blessings is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No, because suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me. Many sacred traditions believe that much of human suffering is derived from worldly desires and it is only when we can turn our focus from the secular to the spiritual can we see God’s hand at work in our lives. I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No, because we must grow on your own! ,but the lovely parent tells us that He/She will prune us to make us fruitful. I think we are in a pruning stage. The New Year is upon us, we are yet again faced with another phase of transition, but why do we prune? I know we have some gardeners here…. To bring new life. Pruning is necessary, it may be painful at times when you get pricked by a throne, but you just get thicker gloves and carry on because it is part of the growth process.
Reverend William Carey, the man considered to be the founder of the modern mission movement, inspired thousands in a sermon when he told them to expect great things from God and in turn we are to attempt great things for God.
One song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake a dream,
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.
One smile can start a friendship,
One handclasp can lift a soul.
One star can guide a ship a sea,
One word can frame a goal.
One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh can conquer gloom.
One step can start a journey,
One word must start each prayer,
One hope can raise our spirits.
One touch can show you care.
One voice can speak with wisdom,
One heart can know what’s true.
One life can make a difference,
You see, it is all up to you!
Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. As you lift up your prayers for the New Year, do so ready to answer the question, how will you make your requests realities.
