24th October 2024
Our prayers are not always answered in the ways we want
Part of a series on prayer
The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.” Then Jesus told him, “Go back home. Your son will live!” And the man believed what Jesus said and started home.
John 4:49-50 (NLT)
Have you ever pleaded with God in prayer for something and the answer was not what you hoped for? Maybe you prayed that God would bless you with a particular job and you didn’t even get an interview, but later a different job came up. Or perhaps you prayed to get married but have had to learn the giftedness of being single. Paul begged three times for the ‘thorn in his flesh’ to be removed, but had to be satisfied with God’s grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
If this is your experience, then the example of the man in our header scripture is instructive. This ‘royal official’ (NIVUK) was undoubtedly used to giving instructions to people and having them jump to attention, but here it’s different. He appears desperate as he pleads with Jesus. He is a desperate father whose little boy is dying. His request is a reasonable one: come to my house and heal my son.
Jesus, however, refuses the official’s request. He wouldn’t go to his home, lay hands on his son, and pray for his healing. Instead, he tells the father to go home, and incredibly, the father obeyed. No arguing, no demanding that Jesus be physically present, no seeking an explanation for Jesus’s decision, just trusting belief and obedience.
Here is a model for us as we live the Christian life: plead or beg (John 4:47) with Jesus in prayer, listen to his response, and obey him, even if it doesn’t make sense. This is what the official did, and it resulted in a healed son.
In our prayers, we must be careful not to prescribe to God how he must answer them. This man started with a prescription – ‘come to my home’ – but was flexible enough to return home alone. He didn’t place Jesus in a box, but rather allowed Jesus the space to answer his request in the best way for him and his son.
We too must be flexible and obedient. We must let God answer our pleadings in his way and in his timing, using whatever methods he chooses. As we place our trust in God and believe that he has our best interests at heart we will be open to receive the grace he has in store for us.
Prayer
Loving Father, even though we don’t always understand the ways you work and the answers you give to our prayers. May we wait patiently and obey you in faith, as you work things out in our lives, knowing your grace is sufficient for us. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
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Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
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Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church