Last week I was asked if I thought it was ok for someone to pray for what they hoped would happen. I was also talking to a friend recently who had been dealing with a situation for a while. I laughed and said, “ask and it shall be given unto you.” To which she replied, “Hmm, I haven’t prayed about it, I’ve just complained about it.”

God answers prayers. I know that for a fact. The Bible says so, and I have experienced it many times. I remember from my early teens two things my pastor said about prayer that have stuck with me. The first was that God answers prayer three ways; yes, no, or wait a while.” Yes prayers are the easiest to accept and be thankful for.  But, he may answer no. When God says no, He is looking out for our best interest. He has something better planned. Someday you may find yourself thanking God for an unanswered prayer. I know I have. The hardest answer is the “wait a while.” We must remember that God’s timing is perfect. Sometimes it seems like He has forgotten, but He is orchestrating each detail and step along the way.

What More do You Want?

A story was the second thing I remember my pastor saying about prayer. It illustrated how God’s answer may be different from what you are expecting. That was many moons ago but it went something like this:

A man was trapped on his rooftop by the rising waters of a flood. A neighbor came by in a rowboat and called to him, “Get in my boat! I’ll save you!” However, the man said, “No!  I prayed to God, and He will save me!” The water rose to the man’s knees. Next came another fellow in a motorboat. “Get in! I’ll save you!” cried the fellow. “No!” the man on the roof replied. “I prayed to God, and He will save me!”  Soon the water was up to the man’s chest. Then a helicopter with a ladder came by. “Grab on!” called the pilot. “I’ll save you!” The man on the roof called, “No, I prayed to God, and He is going to save me!”

Without warning a wave swept him off the roof, and he drowned. As he entered heaven, he questioned God. “God, I prayed to you, and I trusted you to save me. You let me drown. Why didn’t you answer my prayer?” God replied. “My son, I sent you two boats and a helicopter! What more did you want?”

Ask Him

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? 11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! Matthew 7:7-11

God is our father.  “… how much more will our Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him.”  But what if we don’t ask and miss out on a blessing He had planned for us?

-Donna