Next Thursday, May 6, is this year’s National Day of Prayer. All are invited to join in on this day petitioning God on behalf of our nation, state, and community as well as for our leaders on each of these levels. Considering the issues of race, immigration, election reform, financial stability, lingering COVID and others, our nation is in desperate need of God’s help and intervention and I encourage us all to pray for our country.
Special prayer services are being held at various churches including one at Antioch Church of the Brethren at 7pm that day. Several local pastors will be leading portions of prayer for our President, Governor, legislators, Supervisors, School Board members, students, families, and churches. All are invited to attend and masks and social distancing will be followed. You may also join by Livestream if you search YouTube for Antioch COB.
As we pause to pray for our nation, I wonder how many have ever struggled with unanswered prayer. Of course the old saying is that there is no such thing as God has three responses: yes, no, and wait. Nevertheless, it’s the “no” answers we have particular difficulty with. Why would God deny us something that we ask for?
The reasons vary, but ultimately, we must understand and accept that God’s wisdom far surpasses our own. We may think we know what’s best for us and our loved ones when sometimes we have no clue. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t ask, however, for God tells us to do exactly that. But we also must trust Him for the final outcome remembering that His knowledge is perfect and His will is best.
When I was going into my junior year at Central High School, I had enrolled in Latin III. My teacher for the first two years was outstanding and I was looking forward to another year with her. Fortunately God changed my plans and denied my request. My favorite teacher moved away during the summer and her replacement knew little about either Latin or classroom management.
After the first few days of the school year, I realized this would be a wasted class and visited the guidance office to see what else was offered during that period. The available options were limited and I ended up in a typing class instead. I did not intend to be a secretary but many told me these skills would be beneficial.
So I took it. And I’m so thankful I did. Although my Latin occasionally comes in handy, I use my typing skills virtually every day. When I was 16, I had no idea how much time this would save or how valuable this ability would be. But God did and He worked through the events at Central to place me where it was best and I’m grateful today that Latin III never worked out!
Even Jesus had some unanswered prayers. The night before He went to the cross, He prayed that His Father might spare Him the cup of suffering He was about to drink. Like all the rest of us, He didn’t relish pain. But He did trust His Father and added a line that we would be wise to add to each of our prayers as well: “Nevertheless, not my will, but Thine be done.”
Far from being a copout of weak conviction, if we are sincere, it actually demonstrates the greatest faith of all by trusting God to ultimately do what He knows is best. It’s akin to trusting my mechanic to do whatever he knows my automobile needs despite my hunches, desires, or budget. We can’t see the end from the beginning but God can.
As we share together in prayers for our nation as well as ourselves and our families, let’s remember to give God ultimate authority to overrule our prayers anytime He wishes. Not only does He have perfect knowledge, He also wants our very best even more than we do. Let’s invite and allow Him to bring it about.
Blessings, George