| ins | | | | take time to notice the gaping hole. It was there |
| | | | that God once let rivers pass through, and there |
| It would be a lot easier to accept a negative | | | | you’ll discover the answer to your prayers. |
| answer from God if Jesus hadn’t insisted | | | | Though the tunnel be dark and sinister, it does |
| on telling us about moving mulberry trees and | | | | remove the mountain in a very personal and |
| mountains and receiving whatsoever one asks. | | | | subtle way. |
| But he did say all that, and when we don’t | | | | In a more identifiable scenario, Joe Schmoe (a |
| get what we ask for, it leaves us feeling a little | | | | landscaper for 23 years) suffers from unbearable |
| confused. We start to wonder why Jesus said it | | | | back pains. He prays for relief but finds none. He |
| at all. | | | | loses his job and maybe even his house. He relies |
| The easiest cop-out for this is to say that your | | | | on the charity of others and a government check |
| prayers aren’t answered because you | | | | to survive. It really appears that his prayers |
| don’t have the faith of a mustard seed. | | | | aren’t answered. But when he finds a |
| Remember? There were conditions we | | | | hidden talent in landscape design and finds work |
| don’t quite understand. Really
does | | | | with a national construction company, his back |
| anyone know how much faith a mustard seed | | | | problems no longer disable his life. |
| has? | | | | Now let’s look at something more |
| And then, of course, there’s the | | | | complicated. Mary Martin has a four year old boy |
| explanation that really has us scratching our heads. | | | | with a terminal illness. She prays and prays for his |
| God only gives us what’s good for us. | | | | cure, but still looses her son. We could find all |
| So if the answer is no’, then it’s | | | | sorts of happy endings if this was a novel, but it |
| for our own good. It’s hard to see how | | | | wouldn’t help console a grieving mother in |
| moving a mountain is good for anyone
but that | | | | like circumstances. But in this situation, we have |
| was the example that Jesus used. Besides, He | | | | to remember two things: |
| never mentioned any such conditions. He just told | | | | 1. Her son was cured from all worldly diseases. He |
| us (over and over again) that God would give | | | | now enjoys perfect health with our Father in |
| what we ask for. And few of us can understand | | | | heaven. |
| why it was for St Paul’s own good that he | | | | 2. The mother is now forced into a new reality. |
| had the afflictions he writes about. Yet God | | | | One where she faces the fact that all human |
| wouldn’t take them away. Why? | | | | relationships are temporary. She must now |
| Well, my cop-out isn’t much better, but | | | | accept the certainty of death, and let go of her |
| here it goes. | | | | attachment. It’s a harsh lesson, but it is |
| The next time you pray, stop and think about | | | | the tunnel through the mountain. Like it or not, |
| what you really want. If, for example, you decide | | | | it’s the answer to her prayer. |
| a mountain is blocking your passage into the next | | | | These scenarios all have one thing in common- |
| valley, your real desire is not to remove the | | | | God’s answer relies on the faith of those |
| mountain. Rather, it is to remove the obstacle the | | | | praying. It relies on their willingness to follow His |
| mountain gives. So while you solemnly pace at the | | | | divine plan. |
| foot of the mountain, praying for its removal, | | | | |