Midweek Musing- 10/2/24

Do you recall the movie Evan Almighty?

In that movie Morgan Freeman plays God. While I am not sure if God looks like Freeman, I can certainly imagine God sounding a lot like him or the late James Earl Jones or my own dad!

In this movie one scene I will never forget is when God (as played by Freeman) offers what for me is a profound insight into the nature of prayer. And while I am not sure if the script writers intended it this insight is theologically sound resonating powerfully with the teachings of scripture.

The dialogue is as follows and includes several thought-provoking questions: "If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does He give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other?"

These questions challenge us to really consider how we understand prayer and God's response to it. We often pray with specific outcomes in mind, but God's answers frequently come in ways that stretch us beyond our expectations, growing us in faith, patience, and love.

In James’s letter he teaches that “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). This passage affirms that God indeed answers our prayers. However, as Morgan Freeman's God character suggests, these answers may not always align with what we envision. If we pray for patience, God may not simply instill patience within us in an instant. Instead, God provides us with situations that require us to exercise and develop patience. This approach helps us cultivate what Paul called the fruits of the Spirit. And this growth like all growth happens not by avoiding difficulty but by engaging with it in ways that refine and grow our character.

Faith, as the Book of Hebrews reminds us, is “confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Faith involves trusting God’s will, even when we cannot fully understand it. When we pray for courage, we often expect God to remove fear from our hearts, but instead, God might place us in situations where we have to confront that fear. These moments become opportunities for courage to manifest, teaching us to lean on God’s strength rather than our own. God knows that true courage is not the absence of fear, but the presence of hope and trust even the midst of fear.

Similarly, when we pray for better or stronger or deeper connections within our family and friends, we might hope for an immediate sense of happiness and warmth. But instead of magically transforming our relationships, God may present us with opportunities to serve, forgive, or spend meaningful time with one another. In these moments, we are invited to actively participate in building the closeness we hope for, guided by God’s wisdom and grace. God does not “zap” us with feelings of love; rather, God gives us the chance to practice love, patience, and grace, as Jesus did with the disciples.

All of this is to say God answers prayers but like so many things God does so in unpredictable ways. However, they are often in ways that are far better than what we might have imagined or hoped for. Sometimes, the answers to our prayers come in the form of life challenges or unexpected turns that seem, at first, contrary to what we asked for. However, God, in God’s infinite wisdom, knows what we need far better than we do. As Romans 8:28 assures us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” This verse reminds us that even when the answer to our prayer feels like more difficulties or struggles, it is often God’s way of shaping us and preparing us for something greater.

You see, if I understand what the Bible says about prayer then this is why prayers are often answered in the form of opportunities rather than some direct gift sent to us like an Amazon package.

Through the challenges and growth that these opportunities present you and me, we become more in tune with God’s call for our lives. Patience, courage, love, and hope are not things that can be passively received; they are cultivated through active participation in the real-world experiences God places in our path.

As we reflect on this, I hope we will see that prayer is not a transactional request but instead is an essential part of our relationship with God where we learn to grow in faith with God. When we pray in faith, as James encourages, we are invited to believe not just a quick fix which we might desire but in God’s all-encompassing goodness, wisdom, and love. Of course, it means we must learn to relinquish control over how we think the answer should come and embrace the journey that God puts in front of us. This is the essence of faith: trusting that God sees the bigger picture and is working all things for our good, even when we cannot yet see it.

God’s words in Evan Almighty and scripture offers us a valuable perspective and insight on how God answers prayer. Whether we pray for patience, courage, deeper relationships, or something else, God often responds with answers that require us to engage in opportunities that may be a little uncomfortable. However, it is often these opportunities that allow our prayers to be answered. And this truth helps us to trust that God always works in ways that help strengthen our faith.

As we continue to be a people that are called to pray without ceasing, may we be open to God's transformative power remembering that God is not only great but is also good.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Alleluia. Amen.