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Today during lunch I darted into a church near the office for a few quiet minutes. The place is dark, mostly empty, and smells of incense, plaster and candles. Usually I say a prayer or two and find some peace, but today I was feeling out of sorts and irritated. I sat in a pew and reached for some exalted language, then stopped myself. Exalted would have been phony.
I thought of a friend who lost a 22-year-old son, Jesse, in a car accident. Several years later his only daughter was pregnant. On her way to the hospital, she called her dad. She was going into labor. Overcome with a mixture of feelings, he hung up the phone, turned to God and almost shouted: “Don’t you mess with my joy!”
Why do we think we need to make nice in prayer? Why do I? I’ve been blogging my way through the Psalms, and the one overwhelming truth I see in the psalmist’s language is its often raw, blunt anger. Usually when people quote the Bible they don’t quote this line from Psalm 137: “Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock!” That’s the poetry of one hurt, angry dude. No amount of translating can whitewash it.
In a weird way, that line of Scripture gives me courage in my prayers. Better to say things that you wish, even the things that seem patently wrong-headed, than hold them back. Better to pray honestly, complaining, whining, venting, than to say nothing at all. Better to shout out, “Don’t you mess with my joy, God!”
I sat in my pew, venting to God for a while. Much of it was just plain cosmic angst, but I needed to get it out. I didn’t whitewash it. Some calm came. Not a whole lot, but enough. More important, there was a sense of connection.
As for my friend, his daughter gave birth to a healthy baby boy who has brought him much joy and happiness. She named the boy Jesse, after her brother.
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Rick Hamlin is the executive editor of Guideposts magazine. His regular prayer habit is a psalm a day and some meditation on his commute to work, which happens to be a New York subway train.
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All I can say is, Thank you Lord that you are a forgiving and compassionate shepherd. I think we've all had our share of - how shall I say - less than kind - prayers. Thank you for loving us even when we are immature, petulant and fussy like babies.
Once, when I was a single mother, I was having a bad day - really bad. The car motor blew up before I got out of the driveway. I was able to get the children to school and myself to work, and the car towed -and arrangements to make payments. When I got home, my middle child had poked a hole in the freezer of the frig prying the ice tray out. I turned on the oven to preheat - and it was burned out. I reached for the water faucett to wash the tears from my face before the children saw them - and the water pump was broken.
I began to pray - "Okay God, I know you said you would never give me more than I can bear, but if anything else happens today you are just going to have to come down here and help carry this burden."
My son heard me and said "Mom, who are you talking to"
My reply? "God, He's my friend, and we needed to have a chat so things will be okay".
I've always prayed with trust, reference, and acceptance. God listens - always.
Hi, I thank u guys for the inspiration. im a born again believer, and my walk has been a journey I must.say and still is. But I've learned to be patient and still. I've had my share of disappointments, but God is faithful. I've been unemployed for 3 years, I've applied to numerous places, that I lost count. But never have I been without. He promised to supply all of my needs and that I can say he is doing. Things may not be the way we think it should be, but he said he knows the thoughts and plans that he has for us. In Matt6:33 he tells us to Seek ye First the kingdom of god and all these things shall be added unto us. There he already explains to us the way to go. Put and keep him first and have faith in him even when u cant see a way, TRUST... Him.. His word is true,living,and light to us in this dark world. Because Jesus is the only way. God bless u all.
Dear Rick Hamlin,
You are right! Better the honesty than the phony. Afterall, GOD knows every word before it's on our tongue, and He knows our heart. I too have done the same as you, and felt better knowing that I still connected with the Father. Too often today, believers are told to shape up, that GOD does not want us to be sad, complain, and so forth. I can see in the Psalms and scripture where many expressed their thoughts and emotions. GOD STILL LOVES US. I THANK HIM FOR JESUS CHRIST.
Dear friends,am not a christian,am a hindu.but,i hv gn through the books of sir norman vincent peale and i know that bible is a great book of spiritual sciences.friends,i am struggling frm my childhood.suffering from financial problems,i could not enjoy my life lyk others.today am a chartered accountant.i did al my studies without ne tuition.bt never i hv failed.frm my childhood i knw a sweet n powerful verse,"when god is with me,there cn b no one against me".i personalizd it.no one cn stp me evr.i knw dat.blv in god.blv in sucess.u wil get.nw am havng a prblm wd my relatnshp.i lov my girlfrnd nw also.bt she left me.bt i hvnt gvn it up.i knw my god wl bring her back.god is evrywhr.nvr loose faith on him.he is ur saviour,partner,wel wisher and a friend too.hav faith,patience,u wl see his help n care for u.
God sometimes doesn't answer us immediately as we would like Him to because He wants us to have faith and trust in Him.
THE WALK OF FAITH
1. Focus on Him/God - To focus on Him so that we don't worship/Idolize the blessings He will give us. Psalm 105: 19
2. Mature - To mature so that we can be able to handle the blessings.
3. Patience - Through patience God matures us, patience brings perfection. Hebrews 10: 37 & 39, Habakkuk 2:4
The word of God cannot be revoked, it will come to pass through it may tarry. Trust that God is able to do what He says he will do. God changes not.
Don't be disappointed in Him or question Him when He makes you wait.
Best post I have probably ever read on prayer.
Thanks for the honesty. I was just sitting here asking why God hasn't answer my prayers. My husband has just applied for another job & no response. We are waiting patiently as God tells us to be patient, don't be anxious. I am, I am mad, what are we suppose to do. We have been praying for years to find a job, yes over 2yrs. I am really going to asked why hasn't he helped us.
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