So much of the time I treat God like a vending machine. I judge how well my day is going on whether God has “answered” my prayer for this or that in the way I want God to act. Did I get that new client? Will there be paper products on the grocery shelf today? Will that other person treat me better today? Will the leaders in my community act according to the way I think things should be done? Will my friend or family member be healed of cancer? And the list can continue. These are not wrong or selfish requests in themselves, and we are to “make our requests known to God” but, is this the best way to approach God? What if God was more interested in us knowing Him and being known by Him?
During these challenging Global times we are each in unique positions of economic, relational, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual trials. For some who have maintained work and have a stable home life, this time has perhaps been a time of rest and reset. A time to connect with family over meals and walks and a less demanding schedule. For some there are financial and relational hardships. Work has evaporated, relationships that were tense before are escalating and could even be abusive. The other day, my daughter reflected that we are all in the same storm, but in many different boats. So true.
So, how do we come to God in these times? In any times? Is God our cosmic vending machine? Just put in a request and if God chooses to grant this, then we can conclude that we are loved or at least accepted by our Creator? I have been thinking a lot about what kinds of requests are acceptable or right or good. What can we ask of God and what can we expect as a good answer?
First, God has demonstrated throughout history in the Bible and in many historical accounts that He (I use this pronoun, because it is how God chooses to identify Himself ) has helped some people, healed some people, rescued some people; and He has also allowed others to suffer and die. In the Old Testament scriptures, God saved Daniel from the lion’s den, rescued Jonah from sure drowning and death (by having him swallowed by a great big fish, no less), intervened on Isaac’s behalf before his father, Abraham offered him up as a slain sacrifice (at God’s request) and provided extravagant rescue operations for many others. On the other hand, God wiped out all but one family in the world with a world wide flood, exterminated two great cities with fire and sulfur from the heavens and struck down many others who chose to turn away from God in rebellion and pride.
There are also the personal stories of friends and family that have been healed, rescued, offered jobs, met life lovers, and even got the last package of TP on the shelf. Grace. There are still others who have been maimed for life in war, abused severely as children, lost the war with cancer leaving young families and more. Not to mention natural disasters and global pandemics. Toss in inconsistent leaders, criminals, homeless folks, and children suffering at the hands of those who are supposed to protect and care for them. It makes one wonder. What shall I pray? God, where are you? Do you care?
When Jesus traveled with his disciples, he taught them to pray what we now call the Lord’s Prayer.
“Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed (or holy) be thy name. Thy Kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen”
The simple part is that we get to come to God as a child---Father---a good father (unlike some earthly fathers). He loves us as children. He tells us here what to ask for. We can ask for bread and safety and forgiveness. The complicated part is that we do not really know what “Thy Kingdom come” really means, nor when this event-if it is an event-- is to happen. And forgiveness does not come easy for many of us.
Then there is the more complex “holy” part. If God is holy, then all unholiness needs to be purged before we can come and be in His presence. If this is true then not one person now or ever has deserved an audience with the One True Creator, Holy God. God is not obliged to answer anything except, “no” or even death itself to those who have rebelled or turned away in unbelief. We have all rebelled, we have all turned away from God at some time or another—even the cutest children.
So, how can we approach God and what shall we expect? Here is the good news. Even though the Holy Creator God is pure and perfect, this God has chosen also to be all-loving. He laid all His wrath upon Jesus at the cross who then proved His own God-ness by raising from the dead. Jesus promised (and still promises) to be with us in sorrow, suffering, joy and even day to day routine. He does not promise to take suffering away and provide for an easy and “happy life” here on earth. He promises to save us from our sin so that we can spend an eternity free from suffering and experience complete Joy with Him and the others who have also believed.
He does not promise to give us anything else---yet He does. Many of us are well-fed, have people in our lives who love us, have purpose and meaning in our work and we can find solutions for many of our problems. Believers -and even some who are not sure—can experience God’s comfort and presence during tough times. We are in some tough times now and many folks are praying to have good solutions to the problems. However, there is still the question, “What shall we pray?” or “How shall we pray?”
Are we seeking answers and relief to and from our problems? Or are we praying to seek God Himself? If we go back to the prayer that we have been given as an example, we see that we are encouraged to ask for “daily bread”. This is OK. But first we are to acknowledge God as God. Holy. And then we are to pray for His Kingdom to come, His will to be done. We will be tempted to be selfish, unforgiving and to participate in evil so we must pray for God to rescue us from this. There is more I can say on this, but I think this is enough for now. So, as we navigate our days through challenging times it seems there is a question to ponder first:
Am I merely seeking solutions to my suffering? Or am I seeking to know and honor God first? Perhaps I even need His help in this. Keep Praying. God is listening and God will answer. It just might not be the answer you were expecting. I guarantee, though, that it will be the answer that will be best for you and your life with God in the “Forever Kingdom”. “To Him be the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever, Amen”