There is a thought that has been troubling me lately. Maybe troubling isn’t the correct word, but I can’t think of a better one at the moment. Here is the thought –do I look for human-sized solutions to God sized problems? Let me try to explain what I mean. All of us have problems in our lives, some of them way bigger than others but none the less we all have things that steal our energy, focus and resources. When we pray about these problems, do we limit God by offering him our solutions, things that we can see fixing the problem? Basically asking God to bless our human sized solution. Or do we truly seek Him, His direction, His-God sized solution? 

The more I think about my prayers, the what, why and how of them, the more I am convinced that I’m doing it wrong. While its true that are no magic words or a certain procedure that must be followed when we pray. Could it be that we are praying for and then looking for a very specific solution. And when that solution doesn’t come we assume either God isn’t answering us or His answer is no. What if He has given us what we need vs what we want and we completely miss it, because we are too focused on our solution? 

Here is an example from my own life: My husband was laid off from his job four years ago. Since that time we have been earnestly seeking and praying that God will give him a new full time permanent job. Up to this point, that has not happened. While he has a job and has had several over these past few years they have all been either temporary or contract work. The thing that we easily forget is that every single one of our needs have been met. Not the way we hoped or prayed for, but there is no doubt that God has been providing for us. Could it be that we are missing the point or praying too specifically? We have two family friends, both battling cancer. Our prayers have obviously been that they be completely healed. But what if  God’s answer is not to heal them on earth, but to use this illness to share His love and message to countless more people than they would have been unable to without the cancer? That plan doesn’t make sense in our minds. We love our family members and friends, all we want is for them to get better. But do we want better for them or better for us? Eternally speaking isn’t heaven and complete healing forever what we all long for? 

Which brings another question- do we really believe the scripture we read? 1 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. And James 1:2-4 “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” And what about this one-Isaiah 43:19 “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” Or Isaiah 55:8-9“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the Lord’s declaration.“For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Maybe our prayers should be more opened ended? Something like“God, here is my problem, I don’t know how to fix it. In fact I can’t fix it. I do know that You are God and that you know all things. My current problem did not surprise you. You are bigger than I, your solution is better than mine. Will you please lead me/us through this? And will you give me eyes to see your solution, and courage to follow your leading, whatever and wherever that leads.”

Ironically my questions here are God-sized ones that I do not understand. I won’t pretend to know the answers because clearly I don’t. I will encourage you to ponder how you pray and maybe even ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in your prayers. I’m open and interested to any input or thoughts you may have.