Prayer...

Last night we had a great discussion about the book, When God Doesn't Answer Your Prayers by Jerry Sittser. This book created a great topic to discuss. Does God really not answer our prayers, or does he answer them all with answers that we may not always like?

I truly feel like God answers all of our prayers. I also feel like God has a plan for all of us. Think about it...God created the universe. From the highest mountains to the deepest ocean, he holds the entire universe in his hand. He has been here from the begining and He has NO end. Can you even fathom that? I sure can't!

For the LORD is the great God,

the great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth,

and the mountain peaks belong to him.
The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

Psalm 95:3-5 (New International Version)

I think it is hard sometimes with all of the evil in this world, the daily struggles that we have, to understand why it all happens, but God knows. He is there with us every moment of every day to help us bear whatever happens, but we must turn to him. We must trust him completely. Is it hard? Yes, we are human! Will we always understand? No, but if we lean on him, he will sustain us.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. More Than Conquerors 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. Romans 8:26-28 (New International Version)