THE PROBLEM WITH PRAYER

 A MESSAGE FOR SEPTUAGESIMA SUNDAY

There comes a time in everyone’s life when we realize that we simply can’t cope with all our problems by ourselves.  We need to be able to rely on the help of others.  This humbling experience may not be a pleasant one, but self-reliance only goes so far, and sooner rather than later we have to face the reality that we are not an island unto ourselves, quite capable, thank you very much, of handling every crisis that crosses our path.  Eventually, because of old age, or unexpected poverty, marital problems, health issues, catastrophic events, or whatever, we find ourselves obliged to turn to others and plead for help.

At times like this, we find out who are friends really are.  Those who seemed so sociable and close to us all of a sudden stop answering their phone, the text messages become increasingly sparse, and gradually they disappear altogether.  They no longer find us to be a source of joy and fulfillment in their lives, but merely a burden and responsibility they do not wish to take on.  If we’re lucky to have a close family environment or real friends, then we are indeed blessed and will find some of the help we seek.  But sometimes, even that is not enough.

And then, of course, we turn to God.  He whom we had kept on the shelf like a dusty old book is finally taken down and noticed again.  We pray in our distress for a happy outcome, knowing that God is all-powerful and can work miracles if we pray hard enough.  We finish our prayers and then sit back and wait for what we think must be the inevitable answer to our prayers.

Sometimes, our confidence is rewarded and we’re delivered from our plight.  We’re reassured and strengthened in our faith, confirmed in our belief that God answers all prayer.  Other times, though, nothing happens…  Oh dear, has God stopped answering his text messages, is he going to cut us off like all those other false friends we thought we had?  This is where our faith is truly tested.

In point of fact, we’re looking at it the wrong way.  Just because God has chosen to answer our prayer in a way different from what we had hoped for, it doesn’t mean he isn’t answering it in his own way and for our greater good.  But now it is we, perhaps, who stop praying, who lose confidence in God—in short, we're in danger of becoming one of those false friends ourselves, turning away from the God who actually loves us and takes care of us in the way only he knows best.  We must look on it as a test, placing even more trust in divine Providence at such times when we don’t understand it.  Pass the test by praying harder, adoring the all-merciful God in your ignorance of his divine plan for us.  Increase your faith and hope in him, love him all the more in your child-like abandonment to his fatherly care.  You’ll understand later why he chose to handle things this way.