Prayer Expectations

March 2010

“And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:6 (NKJV)

I ran into a friend that runs an orphanage in Haiti. Her face said it before her words spoke it, “The orphanage is no more! The earthquake took it. The children are safe, but there is no orphanage.” One of our deacons asked us to pray for his grandchild who is only two. A few days after a surgery, there were complications and now they are concerned the little one will have permanent brain damage. The sadness on my friend’s face tugs at my heart every time I see her. Her sadness comes from false accusations that sent a loved one to prison. In each circumstance, we prayed to God for help, healing, and deliverance. Answers came, but the answers were not what we wanted or expected from our God. 

What do we do when the answers given do not match the expectation we have of God? Why would a loving God allow…? Even John the Baptist questioned, “Are you the coming One or do we look for another?” Were his expectations of the One he prepared the way for different than what he saw and knew? Jesus simply responded, “People are healed and the gospel is preached and blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Jesus’ last words to John should cause us to pause. Do my expectations cause me to be offended toward God?  Honestly?  We know that not ALL people were healed and not ALL people were saved when Jesus walked on this earth. It is still true today. 

Couple the idea, “Blessed is he who does not take offense with me” with what we dialogued about last month that “love does not take offense.”  Have I loved when I have expectations? This is a huge challenge for me. Is it for you? Can we simply accept that God is God? He sends the rain upon both the good and the bad. He gives and He takes. Didn’t Jesus cry out, “My God! My God! Why has thou forsaken me?” Beloved, God purposed to send Jesus into the hands of wicked men because He knew it would bring Him glory. Could it be that what we experience is for bringing God glory?

Father, help us to bring You glory and not be offended by thee!

Beholding Him, face to face!

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