Friday, March 14, 2014

When Will God Answer My Prayer?

Hey Friend,
 
Due to a coffee maker that died (national catastrophe) and a computer that had the hiccups, I am a day late in posting.  Due to a lack of caffeine, my thoughts seem kind of jumbled, but here goes...
 
Have you ever had one of those prayers?  A specific, burden on your heart prayer that you have prayed every morning and every evening not only for days or weeks or even months, but for years?  Have you ever gotten to the point where, not intentionally, but because nothing seems to be changing, your prayer falls off the radar?  I have.
 
Again, I risk being vulnerable, but my ardent prayer for years has been for my son.  I call it my "prodigal prayer".  I raised my son in the church.  I set God's precepts before him.  I have prayed every day of his life that he would have a true relationship with his Lord and Savior.  He seemed well on the right path until, through a series of events, he became disillusioned with Christians - he saw them for what they often are - hypocrites.  Religion, as he saw it, was flawed and pointless.  He stopped seeking God's will and set upon a course of determining his own future.  It's a plan that has not worked out too well and has led him down a prodigal path of self destruction.  In short, it breaks a mother's heart.
 
I have prayed day and night for several years that God would soften my son's heart and lead him back into His loving arms.  I have prayed for enlightenment, restoration - even for God to knock him off his horse if that's what it would take to bring about a change of heart.  I pray and I hope and I wait and yet nothing seems to change.  "When will God answer my prayer?"  I beg.
 
I do believe in Proverbs 22:6 which states: Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it.  I cling to the hope that this is only a venture off the path and he will return to the God of his youth.  I  see examples like Billy Graham's son Franklin who rebelled in his youth, but finally turned around and became a great spiritual leader.  With God, all things are possible, right?
 
I believe in God's promises about prayer:
 
Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  (Hebrews 4:16)  I have approached with confidence.
 
"If you ask anything in my name, I will do it."  (John 14:14)  I have asked in Christ's name
 
"Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you."  (John 16:23)  Again, I have called upon the name of Jesus, my Savior.
 
Now this is the confidence we have in him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. (1 John 5:14)  Surely praying for my son's reconciliation with his Father would be in keeping with his will?!
 
"If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you."  (John 15:7)  I do abide in you Lord and your words abide in me...
 
I believe that God hears my prayer and that He will answer it!!
 
Lord I believe, help my disbelief.
 
I have come to some conclusions about why my prayer has not yet been answered (this is my own speculation).  I would certainly entertain other insights!!
 
*  God always listens.  Perhaps I'm not listening to Him?  I've been so busy talking that I haven't had time to truly listen. Maybe He has already spoken and I've missed it?
 
*  I am not God...He is.  He is sovereign and in control.  How do I not know that perhaps He is working behind the scenes in ways that I am totally unaware of?
 
*  Sometimes God is silent in order to get our attention.  Many times throughout history, God has been silent in order to gain the full, undivided attention of His followers.
 
*Maybe He is putting my faith to the test.  God does not always give a definitive "Yes" or "No"...sometimes He says "Wait".  Oh the dreaded "wait"!
 
God weaves a beautiful tapestry of our lives and I have found that the dark threads of trial and of waiting on the Lord provide such a distinctive backdrop to the radiant light and beautiful threads of answered prayer. 
 
What a wondrous tapestry God wove in the life of Job.  There was a man who learned how to wait, yet he rose up to profess:
 
"Though he slay me, yet I will trust Him."  (Job 13:15)
 
I don't pretend to have all the answers and I am certainly guilty of stale prayers.  At the very moment I typed the scripture from Job, the sun burst forth from behind the clouds into my kitchen window.  God speaking?  Maybe so!  I pray that I will go forth with renewed confidence in my prayers.  God is listening and He is faithful!
 
Praying for you as you wait upon prayers to be answered.  Please feel free to share a prayer request in the comments and I will be sure to pray for you!
 
In His love,
 
Bev
 
 
 
 
 
 

12 comments:

  1. Hi Bev,

    I so much identify with your heartache with your son. I would like to add one more that I have come to realize. God waits until the time is right for your son to fully grasp the truth. He does all things well and thoroughly. Jesus also will not force Himself on your son. I am starting to understand this is more about your son and the Lord than what you are doing. Because we are moms who love our kids, we also want to make things right. The hard part is to love our kids unconditionally and pray for them with the things we hope for and the evidence of things not seen. This is really HARD. I am not very good at this all of the time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sorry Bev,

    I hit send before I meant to.

    Praying for you!

    Hugs,

    Joanne Peterson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow Joanne, what GREAT insight!! Yes, God's timing is perfect and He will patiently wait until my son is firmly able to grasp His truth. And, yes again, if I could just remove myself from the picture (easier said than done), this is truly a story about God and my son and not about me. I love how you fill in the gaps in my limited way of thinking. You are truly a God-send!!
      Prayers and ((hugs)) back to you,
      Bev

      Delete
    2. It is also about you and how you will be stretched, and learn trust and faith in a deeper way, and love Jesus more for what He is doing for your Son and also the way Jesus is sustaining you along the way. You will see the Lord as greater than what you did before. When your son comes to Jesus, He will have a powerful testimony of the Lord's working in his life. But, while you wait, you also will have a powerful testimony of the Lord's faithfulness, trustworthiness, love,and sustenance for you. When you look back at the markers along the way, just like the Israelites made markers of remembrance, you will be able to look back and see how you have been supported, loved on, and carried when necessary.

      Hugs,

      Joanne

      Delete
  3. I was in a hurry and didn't articulate this very well. Here goes.

    I so much identify with your heartache and your son because of my daughter and her being a prodigal. I would like to add one more thing that I have come to realize. God waits until the right time to fully grasp the Truth. God does all things well and thoroughly. He waited 400 years before freeing the Israelites. It took quite and much destruction for Pharoah to relent and let them go even though the Lord had this planned this and told I think Abraham the prophesy.

    I also did a word study of John 10 and some things jumped out. He talks about there sheep that are His that are not yet part of this flock and He must go out and bring them in and they will heed His voice. And they will be one flock under one Shepherd. Bring them in is a very strong word, almost like propelling them in, it WILL happen. Heed is to listen very, very carefully, paying attention. Jesus will not force your son, but after a while Pharoah gave in. Also, the prodigal had to "come to his senses" I believe some of that is truly understanding the real love of the Father. Nothing on this earth can separate us from that. Jesus just continues to lavish His love in the best way for your son's circumstances.

    A while ago, I was begging Jesus to not let my daughter leave to go to a very destructive residence with a former boyfriend, the father of our boys. I was frantic, and I heard very clearly the Lord say, "I don't see this as going backwards, I see this as going forward because this is part of My plan. I was filled with peace because I knew this was truth.
    Also, anyone who is His, no on can take them out of the palm of His hand. Very strong language.

    I am realizing it is more about what Jesus is going to do and your son's and my daughter's response. Yes, we NEED to pray. But, it is also not looking at the circumstances, and looking at the promises Jesus gave you and believing Jesus will answer even though it sure does not look like it. But, the impel is such a strong word, and no snatching out of the palm of His hand, and the timing to receive what Jesus to offer our kids.

    I'm reminded also in Isaiah the phrase "For the mouth of the Lord has spoken it" Very powerful and authoritative. Yes!

    As mom's who love our kids, we so badly want things to be right. The hardest part is to love our kids unconditionally especially when they are doing either stupid things, or destructive things, or both. Sometimes I just want to say "Really!....." Also the necessary pray with the things we hope for and with the evidence for things unseen. This is really HARD. I am not good at this.

    Bev, I didn't mean to give you a sermon. I know you know this, I hope I didn't offend you. I think this was just as much for me as for you and also in the hopes of encouraging you with another angle.

    Hugs,

    Joanne Peterson


    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Joanne,
      We must have been crossing in cyber space!! I do not view your input as a sermon, but rather as encouragement from a sister-in-Christ who has walked this road and is imparting the knowledge that God has revealed to her along the journey. I SO appreciate your insights...they truly help me when I wrestle around with these struggles in my own little head. This is exactly what a community of believers is for!! God bless you and sending heartfelt thanks!!
      Always,
      Bev

      Delete
  4. Hi Bev,

    you sweetly touched my heart like every week. As you wrote about your son at incourage ("how can we pray for you") I continued praying when I thought about you or about him.
    To read that he didn't change his mind yet hits a christian heart. An old woman of our church prayed a long long time for many of their children. Some weeks ago she passed away. All her children around her - praying and hoping and letting her go to her Heavenly Father.

    I will pray for you.

    My prayer request is that one of my ears will heal and that I learn to live pure and full of dignity to live a life of worship and joy for my Lord.

    Feel (((hugged))) and be blessed,
    Sonja

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sonja,
      It is so good to hear from you! Thank you very much for your continued prayers regarding my son. I trust that Christ will restore my son unto Himself in his sovereign timing. Meanwhile, I truly appreciate you lifting me up in prayer as well!

      I am praying for healing for you as well. You truly live a worship filled life and its beauty spills out onto others. You are such an encouragement!!
      Blessings and ((hugs)) to you,
      Bev

      Delete
    2. Bev, I'm glad to read that you believe in me. Often I do not.
      My youth is filled with faults and regrets and I think that my life could have been much better if I live more for Christ and less for me. Faults with guys and regrets about pursuing the wrong things.
      It shouldn't define my worship and of most of all not my future life - but it does.

      If you would pray for a healthier life and that I live fully and a poured out life for Christ... you will help me being stronger.

      Love you, dear sister. ♡

      Delete
    3. Sonja,
      I am honored and humbled to pray for you. I DO believe in you...so does God. As for your past, no one is better able to bring beauty from ashes than our God. As far as the east is from the west - that is how far He has removed and flung your sins. You are forgiven, pure and clean. My daughter, age 25, has a lot of the same regrets you do, but God has helped her to channel her mistakes into helping other young girls not go down the same road she did. She mentors a small group of teenage girls at her church. Maybe there is someone in your life that you can come alongside and help to navigate this thing called life. God can use even our biggest mistakes to further His Kingdom. I see GREAT potential in you!! I will certainly pray for a healthier life for you and one poured out for Christ!!
      Love and ((hugs)),
      Bev

      Delete
  5. Hello my friend. This speaks to this mom's heart as every day I pray for both my boys to find Christ. You've shared such good wisdom on praying. My pastor did a sermon not to long ago on praying and talking about first asking God how He wants us to pray...who are we to pray for. It was a powerful message and really stayed with me. The waiting is hard isn't it. I had a sign just recently that gave me hope to my oldest son's heart softening. I don't know where it may lead but you are so right...we need to trust in His timing and believe that even though we may not see He is doing His thing. He is SO good. Miss you sweet friend. Much love and (((hugs)))

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beth,
      When two or more are gathered together (even in cyber space) there God will be. I claim that promise for both of us as we pray for the hearts of our boys! What a testimony your life has been in front of some very impressionable eyes. Praying that their hearts will continue to soften. Miss you and love you!
      ((Hugs)),
      Bev

      Delete

I would really LOVE to hear from you!! Your thoughts, opinions, suggestions and prayer requests mean a lot to me.