Conversations with God

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

– 2 Corinthians 12:9

Christ-followers enjoy many special privileges, and one of the greatest is the ability to approach God in prayer about our blessings, troubles, concerns — and everything else that’s going on in our life. Prayer is a give-and-take conversation. And it’s all possible through our faith in his Son, Jesus. As Psalm 145:18 assures us:

“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.”

But this raises an important question: If we have such a special relationship with our Creator, why is it that some of our prayers go unanswered? After all, there are times when even the most seasoned Christ-follower feels like their petitions go no higher than the bedroom ceiling.

Let’s keep in mind that prayer is like a phone call. Sometimes the message comes through loud and clear — as if the other person is standing right next to us. But sometimes there’s static … or the call gets disconnected or doesn’t go through at all. So, what's the problem? 

First, we must ensure that the line is clear by dealing with any unconfessed sin in our life. After all, the One who created us is already aware of our every thought and deed. Likewise, if we’re carrying a grudge against someone — like a spouse or co-worker — it needs to be ironed out before we can expect God to listen to us. And faith also plays a significant role. If we pray but don’t think God has the power or desire to deal with our issues, why even ask in the first place?

What about those times when we pray sincerely and with good intentions, but our prayers still go unanswered? The short answer is that God DOES answer every one of them. But sometimes his response is “no” or “not now.” As the Creator of all things past, present, and future, he knows the big picture — those people, places, and circumstances that make all the difference to our situation. And although it's not always apparent to us at the time, God's plans for us are always the best. He knows that it’s not always what we want that matters, but ultimately, it's all about what we NEED. So, with that in mind, let’s embrace the apostle Paul’s call to Believers like you and me through 1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18:

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”