I Did Not Pray
God is sovereign.
When my son ran away for three nights I did not pray that he might return home, but that God would teach him what he needed to learn from it.
When my wife was laboring for 14 hours in the hospital with our first baby and I was left outside waiting and wondering I did not pray for a safe delivery, but that God would give me reason to abound with joy in trusting him though I see not.
When I slid into adultery 19 years ago my wife prayed for me to return, but God patiently changed her selfish petition to one of surrender. 14 years was the LORD witness to her pleas and cries. And when finally the fullness of her time in the school of secret prayer came, God then delivered me.
When I received an incurable wound in my body because of my sin I did not pray to be healed, but that it should remain with me unhealed all my life, and that it would serve to remind me that I have offended God severely, yet in His mercy He forgave me.
When my wife was diagnosed with a besetting ailment years ago, I did not pray that she might be healed of it, but that she might draw closer to God through it.
When on numerous occasions we were down to our last cent I did not pray that help would come, but that I would see God's hand move more clearly and that my faith be strengthened by it.
Numerous were the times when people have asked for prayer to be healed, delivered and the troubles be cut short. I do not pray for those things, I cannot ask God to take away that which He Himself sovereignly placed, but that whatever reason God allowed such, this I do pray: That His strength be their strength, and He would be glorified in His purpose of it.
Troubles will come. Needs will come. Calamities will come. Death will come. God is neither unaware or insensitive about the pains of His sons and daughters. But pain has a way of teaching us treasures we never would have learned had we not been struck down so low. God has ordained the evening to be dark, to the end that the morning following would all the more be clearly manifest. More beautiful. More praiseworthy. That by the light dispelling the darkness, God's name be further glorified, and Christ become your sole surety.
When my son ran away for three nights I did not pray that he might return home, but that God would teach him what he needed to learn from it.
When my wife was laboring for 14 hours in the hospital with our first baby and I was left outside waiting and wondering I did not pray for a safe delivery, but that God would give me reason to abound with joy in trusting him though I see not.
When I slid into adultery 19 years ago my wife prayed for me to return, but God patiently changed her selfish petition to one of surrender. 14 years was the LORD witness to her pleas and cries. And when finally the fullness of her time in the school of secret prayer came, God then delivered me.
When I received an incurable wound in my body because of my sin I did not pray to be healed, but that it should remain with me unhealed all my life, and that it would serve to remind me that I have offended God severely, yet in His mercy He forgave me.
When my wife was diagnosed with a besetting ailment years ago, I did not pray that she might be healed of it, but that she might draw closer to God through it.
When on numerous occasions we were down to our last cent I did not pray that help would come, but that I would see God's hand move more clearly and that my faith be strengthened by it.
Numerous were the times when people have asked for prayer to be healed, delivered and the troubles be cut short. I do not pray for those things, I cannot ask God to take away that which He Himself sovereignly placed, but that whatever reason God allowed such, this I do pray: That His strength be their strength, and He would be glorified in His purpose of it.
Troubles will come. Needs will come. Calamities will come. Death will come. God is neither unaware or insensitive about the pains of His sons and daughters. But pain has a way of teaching us treasures we never would have learned had we not been struck down so low. God has ordained the evening to be dark, to the end that the morning following would all the more be clearly manifest. More beautiful. More praiseworthy. That by the light dispelling the darkness, God's name be further glorified, and Christ become your sole surety.
The purpose and heart cry of heavenly prayer, is not that I would be delivered from my troubles, but that I may see His hand in the midst of it. Not in what I receive from it, but what I become by it. May the power of Christ be magnified in my frailty before all.
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