Answered Prayer Will Kill You!

If someone asked me if God decided to grant any two prayer requests for myself right now, what would they be, I would have to say that my prayer would be for humility and righteousness. Oh, there are many other things that I pray about for myself, but when I really think about it, these two things (I guess you could say that they are really one thing: holiness) would give me the most joy. What a better life I could live if I were free from this damnable pride and sin! I long for purity in my my mind and in my actions. It is the greatest desire of my heart.

But then I started thinking: God is probably not going to grant me those desires today, so how long will he wait to answer my prayer? The answer to that question is that God will not make us holy until this life is over. How ever many more days he has ordained for me on this earth is the number of days until my two prayers are answered.

Now, here's where the brain-bender comes in: If I died today, my two most important prayer requests would be answered! That means that if I am out driving and a drunk-driver crosses into my lane and kills me, God has just granted me the greatest desires of my heart - and more! He would also usher me into his very presence and I would be with the Lord!

How many so-called tragedies are also glorious answers to prayer? If being killed by a drunk driver could be the best thing to ever happen to a person, then why can't being diagnosed with cancer also be a joyful experience? Doesn't God work all things for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28)? If that is true, then we should thank God for everything that comes our way, regardless of how the world thinks about it. Cancer can be the means that God uses to conform you to the image of Christ. A tornado can usher a believer into God's presence with the same effectiveness of Elijah in the chariot of fire.

I realize it is difficult to praise God in the midst of hardship, but I think that this is a problem mainly of perspective and faith. First, try to understand what God could be doing in what you are going through. Then, believe his promise that all he does is for your good and his glory. Thank him for the beautiful disasters that he uses to shape us and perfect us!