Part 1
Part 2
Have you ever taken time to sit down (or walk or drive for that matter) and seriously think about your prayers that you would label as unanswered?The big question we land on is "Why?"
This is a question that, as we approach God, is often approached with a little apprehension. This is understandable. Those who wish to honor God in his Sovereignty need to show respect to the way God is orchestrating his plan for the world and will for our lives.
The problem is that "blind faith has" limits. When we blindly accept that there is a reason our prayer is going unanswered and do not take time to consider what that reason is, we may be missing out on a significant opportunity to connect more deeply with the heart and character of God. So I want to invite you to consider the why behind your and my unanswered prayers. Keeping the following in mind...
- Why does not always equal doubt. We often jump to the conclusion that asking for the why behind something is that we doubt it. Not the case. In fact, when you and I first asked why as children, we were not asking out of doubt.
"Dad, why is the sky blue and the grass green?"
"Mom, why is that man yelling at that woman?"
"Grandpa, why do you have so much extra skin?"
Our natural whys actually tend to be more asked out of intrigue and a desire to understand something at a new level. - Why can be asked with some doubt. The other side is that our why is driven with some doubt. When we find ourself starting our why with the statement, "I don't understand why" we are insinuating a level of doubt in the situation we are questioning. This is not a horrible thing.
- Engaging in why is only being honest. By truly engaging in why we are likely coming to grips with what has been going on inside us already.
The How of unanswered prayer...
- God says NO.
- God says I CAN'T.
- God says WAIT.
- God says NOTHING.
2 comments:
Why is doubt something that causes(or should cause?) concern at all?
That's an honest question, not snark.
I don't feel bad at all about my doubts. I guess I feel like they're inherent to who I am, who we are as human beings. And I just can't feel guilty or worry about something that seems like it's in my very nature. But, maybe that's wrong.
Or maybe it's a difference in the conception of faith. I don't see doubt as the inverse of faith. Maybe I'm wrong, though.
By your last statement, are you saying that you're doubting if it's ok to doubt??
Only joking. I totally agree. One of the most faulty notions that has been ingrained in the church is that doubt is the antithesis of faith.
One of my more favorite stories in the Bible is found in Mark 9 concerning the boy being tormented by an evil spirit. The father of the boy comes to Jesus asking if it would be possible to help the boy.
Jesus responds...
23" 'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes."
The man's father's response is what I love...
24Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
He's basically admitting doubt coupled with faith, and Jesus grants him his request.
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