He Is With Us
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -- Philippians 4:6-7
Why do we pray? We want to talk with God. Maybe we really want to talk to God. We want to tell Him what we want. Maybe we want something that seems important, like a job promotion. We could want something that is important, like the life of someone we love. Mostly we seek protection and strength and guidance. All things He willing gives -- in His time and in His way.
It's difficult to accept "no." But sometimes that is the answer He gives to our prayer requests. We don't understand. We agonize and scream at the unfairness of it all. We want to cast blame except how can we blame the very One who loves us most? We know there is good to come, even when we can't see it right now.
We pray for God's will to be done but do we mean it? We think we do. We know that God knows best. We know He loves us. We know that. Really. But sometimes it feels all messed up when He denies us something we want so badly. Like the life of someone we love.
Then we remember that God never promised to give us everything we want. He never promised to spare us from pain and loss. He never promised to shield us from this world's struggles.
He did promise to be with us always. He promised to love us and strengthen us and grant us His peace as we go through life's trials. "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20b) And that is why we pray.
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