I have given up on a certain prayer. I used to read this verse and think, “I should keep praying for this and one day it will be answered.” But after years of no movement in that area, eventually I gave up on the prayer thinking God must roll His eyes whenever I bring it up again. I don’t know.
The parable today’s verse is referring to is about a woman who was persistent in complaining to a corrupt judge. He kept denying her request because he didn’t care about justice or the law, but she kept refiling her complaint. Time and again he dismissed her case until one day he’d had enough. He granted her request just so he didn’t have to see her anymore.
Jesus compares this situation to prayer but says there is one huge difference. God is not a corrupt judge. He does care about justice and the law. And He loves His people. He is happy to hear my stories. He is eager to heal me, right the wrongs in my life, and protect me from evil when I come to Him.
So why hasn’t He granted my request for this one prayer? And does He really want me to keep asking?
It occurs to me that maybe He did answer my prayer. Maybe the answer was “no” or “not yet” or “not the way you are asking”.
If I approach God knowing He loves me and cares deeply, but is wise beyond my ability to understand, I can pray my prayer in a different way. Instead of asking Him to change someone else, I can ask Him to change me. Instead of asking Him to remove someone else’s problematic behavior, I can ask Him to understand, forgive, and love them where they are.
Instead of whining that God doesn’t answer my prayer, maybe I should spend some time listening to His actual answer. The one He gave me instead of the one I’m expecting.
Dear God,
Thank you for your love, your wisdom, and your promise to hear and answer my prayers. Teach me to trust you in this. Open my eyes and ears to see and hear how you answer my prayers. I’m sorry for stubbornly refusing to look past the answer I want to see and understand the answer you gave.
CamDevo 