Two Common Questions About Prayer ...

(These two questions about prayer were originally written for the 2009 CityFest Prayer Team email newsletter. We are forming a database of 1000 prayer intercessors for this Fall's Central Arkansas CityFest with Luis Palau that will serve the Body of Christ long after the festival is over. If you would like to join the database, please send an email to Judy Best at judy@prayeradventures.com. Thank you for praying!)

I. Why Pray if God Already Knows?

Many of us, if we were really honest with ourselves, have probably struggled with this question. The answer? God has sovereignly willed certain things to occur only when we pray. Events are ordained to happen because you and I simply ask Him. There are things He wants to accomplish in, through and around you, that will eternally affect your family, church, workplace and city ... all because we choose to pray. (James 4:2, Luke 11:9-13, James 5:17-18)

Another important truth to understand is that God, in His merciful wisdom, created prayer as one of the primary mediums of communication (in both directions) between His infinite being and our finite humanity. With Christ in your life, He expects a very real, dynamic, intimate relationship with YOU. Such a relationship will only grow so deep without proper prayer. (Ps 27:14, Ps 38:15, Is 50:4, John 15:7, 1 John 1:9)

So why pray if He already knows? Why talk to your children if you already know what they are going through? Why listen to their hearts if you already know their situation? ... Get the picture? In those tender moments, we, as the parent, are able to speak into our children's lives. Our Heavenly Father desires to do the same thing with us.

II. Why Didn't God Answer My Prayers?

We've probably all prayed earnestly for things that didn't pan out the way we desired. Even as a pastor, I have been left bewildered with many unanswered questions, especially when I see situations go the opposite way that I had been praying. Others still are left frustrated with God, and the unanswered prayer is used to form a wedge between them and God: a reason to doubt God instead of believe in Him.

I was reminded recently on several fronts why God allows these things to happen. I want to share them with you.

A seemingly unanswered prayer does not mean God is not working. I've seen recently how quickly God can change a despairing situation from one of hopelessness to one of hope. His sovereign hand continues to work long after my last prayer has been prayed; a lost sheep comes home, a heart breaks and runs to those that have loved them well, a phone call or a letter from someone unexpected that changes everything. Things can change on a dime because God is at work, even though we can't see it. His timing is simply not our timing. (Col 4:2, 1 Thess 5:17)

His glory is always first, our comfort second. God continues to use His children in the worst of circumstances, so that others will sit up and take notice of the hope that is within us. Someone understands their need for Christ through a tragedy; others want for themselves what they have seen in the life of the one who believes; the gospel is sown in the life of an unbeliever through a powerful testimony of faith through adversity. Faith exhibited in the midst of trials is like a magnet to those who possess no hope, and many times that is the answer to our prayers. (Matt 5:14-16, 1 Pet 1:6-7)

He uses those times to deepen our faith. When we trust Him through those times He doesn't appear to be working, and then see the power of His sovereign hand in the end, our faith is dredged out into a deep channel of trust. Our faith is refined to a high degree of purity on the other side of perseverance. (James 1:2-4)

God weaves the tapestry. From the other side, all we see are disconnected threads starting and stopping at random places; questions unanswered, mysteries yet to be revealed. But from Heaven's side, God sees the beautiful, big picture and wants us to keep praying, believing, trusting, and hoping in Him. Our faith clarifies His sovereignty, because as you look back in time, you can't help but see His righteous right hand at work. Allow those mysterious times to be used to draw you toward Him instead of away from Him, to push you towards hope, instead of away from it, towards life instead of death. You won't regret it. Keep praying!