I have a problem with praying. Thing is, I neglect it so much that when I finally get around to the business of God's business, I don't feel like I have the right to go bother God with my requests. Well, I've finally discovered, that any prayer prayed is going to have requests in it...its just the nature of prayer. Nothing can happen in this world without the grace of God. For crying outloud, just look at Jesus' instruction on how to pray in Matthew 6. If you look at the Lord's prayer, its packed full requests (thy kingdom come, thy will be done, give us bread, forgive us, lead us not into temptation, & deliver us). So Christ wants us to ask!

When you look at St. Paul, he wrote that he "pleaded" with God 3 times to remove a "thorn in his flesh". (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Did God remove that thorn? No.

Now let's flashback to Job. Its pretty well known about his misfortunes, which included losing his family, possessions, and even health. Eventually, Job poses some pretty heavy questions to God.
"If only I knew where to find him."
"Though I cry...I get no response."
"Though I call out for help, there is no justice."
"Oh for the day when God's intimate friendship blessed my house!"

Wow. You go Job. Make God answer. Make Him explain himself to you. What did you do wrong to deserve these trials? That's right man, n-o-t-h-i-n-g.

So what was God's response? The pastor-theologian, Frederick Buechner, said it well when he writes in his book Wishful Thinking that God doesn't do any explaining to Job. Nay, in fact God "explodes"! "He doesn't reveal his grand design. He reveals himself" to Job. We all know the ending of the story, about how Job receives much more than he ever had before and lived a long, full life. However, what we overlook is that before Job even knew he would be restored, he replies to God, "My ears have heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you." This drives him to repentance! Just meeting God...or God meeting him in his lowly state was all that Job ever needed.

So remember back in the New Testament how Paul prayed for the thorn to be removed and how it wasn't God's will? Was Paul rebuked for praying for something that wasn't in God's will? Of course not. The answer Paul received wasn't what he was expecting. In fact, it was much more than he expected for he writes that he was given God's grace and power to overcome.

This was a powerful reminder to me to pray and pray hard. Paul "pleaded". If you look at Job, to say he pleaded would be an understatement! These two men laid themselves open before God and He responded.

Now I must respond.

Peace for the journey-