If God Exists Why Do We Suffer?
June 7, 2024
The Way, the Truth and the Life
June 9, 2024Openness, goodness, love, understanding, strength, trustworthiness – these are terms which, for many, are linked with the idea of ‘a good father’.
In recent years the structure of the family has altered, and very few children are lucky enough to have such a father. Problems are discussed with friends or completely suppressed because their father either has no time or lacks understanding.
Nevertheless, we must not throw our conception of the ideal overboard. The Bible often speaks of God as the Father who possesses all the characteristics that we would desire. He has time for us. We can come to Him with our problems. He openly invites us:
‘Call on me in the day of trouble;
I will deliver you’ (Psalm 50:15).
This is not a one-way street, but a real conversation with God. The Bible calls it ‘prayer’.
The Bible calls it prayer
There are many different ways of having a conversation. The essential precondition for an intensive dialogue is your attitude towards your partner.
When we pray we can kneel down, close our eyes, fold our hands, formulate our words just in our thoughts, or speak out loud.
What is important is not to place the form above the content. It is not enough to make a ‘pious face’ if we have nothing to say. Praying is a serious matter, but not a sad, torturous one. It’s not a question of great words, but rather of inner attitude. The closer we turn to God, the clearer He will answer (Luke 18:9-14).
You can go into a church to pray. Yet the Bible also speaks about the ‘closet’, a place where we are undisturbed (Matthew 6:6). Nothing should distract us when we speak to God. You can’t always go somewhere quiet to pray. Neither is it necessary. God is still our conversation partner at our place of work, at school, in the kitchen or in the car, and in other places which seem to have nothing to do with God at all.
Whoever begins the day with prayer also finds time to do everything that needs to be done:
‘Morning by morning, Lord, you hear my voice; . . . I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly’ (Psalm 5:3).
‘I think of you through the watches of the night’ (Psalm 63:6).
Prayer is a basic need
Praying is a basic need which cannot simply be satisfied when one wants to or when one is in difficulty. The apostle Paul admonishes us: ‘Pray continually’ (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Such a close relationship with God is possible everywhere, at all times. Prayer is not an obligation, but rather the principle of depending on God and allowing Him to play a part in everything we do.
Surely God already knows everything! Right. We don’t pray to give God information or to try to persuade Him to fulfil our wishes. Praying comprises far more. Namely:
1. Worship and praise. Here we make ourselves aware of the greatness and omnipotence of God:
‘Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name’ (Psalm 103:1).
Moreover, our praise is a kind of declaration of love to Him:
‘We love because he first loved us’ (1 John 4:19).
2. Thanks. Because God loves us at all times, we always have reasons to be thankful (1 Thessalonians 5:18). When we are grateful, we reflect anew on what we often take totally for granted.
3. Asking for something. We can ask God to help us to overcome our difficulties. At the same time, it is possible to pray for other people, for our relatives, friends, the sick, those who have responsibility, and even for our enemies. Interceding is the most valuable thing we can do for other people. He always hears us, as a man of God testified:
‘When I called, you answered me’ (Psalm 138:3).
When there seems to be no answer
Sometimes we have the impression that God does not give us an answer to our requests and questions. He seems to keep silent. King David gives a possible explanation: ‘If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened’ (Psalm 66:18).
Answering a particular request could be harmful either for us or another. Maybe we are just too impatient and can’t wait for the answer. In any case, we can fully trust God’s promise:
‘ “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ’ (Jeremiah 29:11)
Jesus is a very good example of trust in this promise. Before He was executed He prayed: ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me’ (Matthew 26:39). Yet God’s will and plan remain decisive: ‘Yet not my will, but yours be done’ (Luke 22:42).
The Lord's Prayer
When Jesus prayed, the disciples were deeply impressed. Therefore they asked Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’
Jesus answered them with the Lord’s prayer:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts, as we also
have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For yours is the kingdom and the
power and the glory for ever.
Amen.’
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Recommended resources
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