Our way of His way
Often we hear about His way and how His way is greater than our own. But I think that we can often get caught up in our way of His way.
I think, that we think with a human mind as to what His way looks like and how it can be done. That when we are waiting for a season, or for the end of a season, the prayers we make are usually for something. Something that, perhaps, we can measure, and know when the prayer is answered. Or something that cannot be measured, and therefore not know as well when the prayer is answered.
And of course, these are only two ends of a spectrum of prayer, which, is in fact, a spectrum with multiple ends. Therefore, the types of prayers and reasons for prayers vary in ways that I simply have no right or ability to encapsulate in this piece of writing. But my point is this, when we do pray, sometimes we find ourselves in a place where we're needing that prayer to be answered in a way that we can understand.
But, if we take a step back, we recognise that, in fact, we are praying to God and we are praying for things that are secondary to His way. Because no matter what we pray for, the prayer will be answered in His way.
So, what does that look like for you? What are you praying for, both in and over your life, right now?
Prayer can be instant
Don't get me wrong, I know that prayer can be answered in exactly the way that we are after. I know that that is truly a testament of God and how good He is. I've had it myself. It's a realised dream. You pray for something and it sort of just happens. It's amazing.
And I wouldn't say that it’s an exception, but it is more often than not more in line with, dare I say, expectation, of how prayers can be answered. It’s our way of His way. So what is God’s way of answering prayer?
Perhaps, to answer that myself would then be bringing it back to a human understanding. Whereas the truth will always transcend that. But I’d still like to give it a shot.
His way
I think God answers prayer with patience. With timing. With care. With goodness. With love. I think each and every prayer is heard and planned out even before it was prayed by us.
He is taking us (you) on a journey right now. And maybe you are in a place where you’re praying every day with love and discipline in dedication to your relationship with Him. Or, maybe you're in a place where you don't usually pray, but you're praying a lot at the moment because you need something. Perhaps relief, support, love for someone else or just hope. You’re praying in need.
Or perhaps, you just don't pray much at all. Or maybe, you don't feel that you need to. Regardless, we are all on a journey and our journey is His plan. And therefore His way.
No unexpected prayer
So, when you do pray, when you take that time, when you're on your knees, when you close your eyes before dinner or you just take a moment on your way to work - He already saw it, and at the very least, He was already there with you in that moment. It didn't take Him by surprise. He didn’t go “Oh, that’s a new one on the menu!”.
Rather, He rejoices that you reached out and you consciously wanted to bring Him in, to put hope in Him and do what you need to do with Him. He rejoices with that, because He was already doing that all along, you just decided to join Him.
God answers your prayer
He’s working on that prayer even before you say it. He's working on a part of your life before you even get to it. Whether you are someone who prays when in need, or someone who prays everyday, so much so that it feels like forever for prayers to be answered. Whether you wait five years or have it answered tomorrow, He answers the prayer with patience and timing.
His patience and timing. Not ours. The perfect, real, loving, kind, caring, patience and time that answers prayers according to His plan. In His way.
We praise, we love and we pray to the same God. To the God. Who is good. Who is caring. Who is kind. And who answers prayer in His way, with the perfect amount of patience. And the perfect amount of time.
Bless you. Amen.
Harrison is a 24-year old, raised in a non-Christian family and came to faith at 18. Having worked as a Marketing & Communications Assistant for two years after getting his Bachelor of Communications in 2019, He has swapped his home of New Zealand for Europe after a few months working at a summer Christian camp in Canada. He has a passionate personality which is illustrated in many facets of his life, from writing, to sports, food, friends, family and God. Harrison enjoys exploring and grasping different parts of life and discussing them with others. Chat with Harrison further at: harrisonbellve@gmail.com