Asking and Searching and Knocking

One of my friends was a chaplain at University Hospital during the first year of the pandemic. He told me that during that time his prayers usually concluded: “O God, not thy will, but mine be done!”

Most of us, at one time or another, have desperately prayed for something, but “my will” just isn’t what happens. And yet, Jesus says, “Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you” (Luke 11:9).

This verse might suggest that we can pray for anything we want: a diamond necklace or a fancy car, cure of disease, financial success, world peace, whatever, and (click!) we’ll get it. Whatever we want, when we want it. And if that doesn’t happen, well, maybe we didn’t pray correctly, or we’re not good enough, or we don’t have enough faith.

But then in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus teaches us to pray for the reign of God, bringing peace and justice and well-being for all people. We are to pray for the essentials of life: “our daily bread.” We are to pray to be forgiven and for the strength and courage to forgive others. Finally, we are to pray for safety from temptation and evil (Luke 11:2-4).

The essence of what we are to pray for is relationship with God, closeness to God, and trust in God’s faithfulness and mercy.

These days, I am praying for the sick, for those who are in danger and afraid, for the suffering and the hungry, for peace, for human rights. I don’t believe the lack of results reflects “God’s will.” God is intimately present in suffering, and over time (perhaps a very long time), I believe God will bring resolution and reconciliation.

Jesus does not promise that every want will be fulfilled. He does promise God’s love and “good gifts” which may not be what we expect and might be much more than we ask or imagine. Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit to nurture and sustain us in our prayers and carry us on our journey to love God and each other. With the power of the Spirit, we can follow Jesus with persistence and with hope (Luke 11:13b).

–Sr. Ellen Francis, OSH

What are you praying for? Where do you find hope when your prayers are not fulfilled as you wish?