Life sucks sometimes, doesn’t it? Every season seems to bring some kind of trial, tribulation, heartache, worry, whatever. And you just find yourself crying out to God.
But here’s my question, what are you crying out for?
How often have you prayed “Lord, please end this trial. I can’t take it anymore. I want it to stop. Please, take this away. Take this pain away. Take this situation away. Remove me from this hard time.” Or something similar? Have you prayed for anything like that? Cause I have, way too many times to count honestly. But, why?
Remember the story of Daniel? King Darius signed a document stating no one, for thirty days, shall petition any god or man other than Darius. But, Daniel, still prayed to God our Father. And Darius found out, so what did he do?
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” - Daniel 6:16.
Now answer me this, did Daniel pray that God would take him out of the den? That the lions would disappear? No. He prayed for protection in the face of trial.
How about another example. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. King Nebuchadnezzar made a decree that whenever music played, people were to fall down and worship the golden image he created. But these men didn’t. They worship our God the Father only. So what happened?
And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. - Daniel 3:20
Did they pray the fire was to be put out? That God would transport them out? That this situation would not be? No. But God was with them in the face of their trial.
David is another example. Everyone was afraid of the giant, Goliath. But David faced him head on.
And David said, “The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.” And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” - 1 Samuel 17:37
This kid faced a giant warrior that every adult was afraid to face. And he didn’t pray for the situation to change. He faced Goliath head on.
Does this mean we are not supposed to pray such things? Of course it doesn’t. Here’s one last example. Jesus Christ.
I’m sure you know he prayed for the cup to be taken from him. He didn’t want to go to the cross, the idea made him sweat blood for crying out loud. Did you know he asked persistently too?
Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again. - Mathew 26:36-44
Jesus asked three times for the cup to be taken from him. It’s okay to keep asking the same thing, especially if it’s really something on your heart. But did you notice when Jesus prayed? “Not as I will, but as you will,” “Your will be done.” He was still willing to follow his God the Father.
Do you know what each of these examples have in common? In each of these situations, trust was present. Daniel trusted that God would protect him from the lions. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego trusted God with their lives in that fire. David trusted God to be with him as he faced Goliath. And Jesus trusted God had the best in store.
Sometimes the situations we find ourselves in are hard. We wish they were not so. And it’s okay to pray they weren’t. But when we pray, we need to pray in trust. To trust God. Things don’t always go the way we want. But God uses each and every situation for His ultimate good. He is ever present with us as we face such situations. We can trust him in the fire, lions den, with our own Goliath. We can trust him even in the deepest despair…. The persistent crying out.
God hears. God is present. God is with you, guiding you, teaching you, giving you His strength. He loves you.
Scriptural Musings with Booferchick 