EXPECT AN ANSWER Nothing is impossible with God  
Kathy Bernard - Publisher

 

 

Sometimes life throws unexpected curves when we least expect it.  Though we have faith and understand that the Lord is always available, we still find ourselves agonizing over the things that happen to us.  We become paralyzed, uncertain and afraid even as we pray to God for help.  This is the time, in spite of difficulties, that we must remind ourselves that nothing comes forth in this world of tangled webs that can go past God's unseeing eye.  We must remember that He is able to unravel and extricate our most complicated situations with Divine Wisdom and love.

 

The following is a story of great faith: "A drought continued for what seemed an eternity, a small community of farmers was in a quandary as to what to do.  Rain was vital to keep their crops healthy and sustain the way of life of the townspeople.   As the problem became more acute, a local priest called a prayer meeting to ask for rain.  Many concerned people arrived at the church and the priest greeted most of them as they filed in.   As he walked to the front of the church to officially begin the meeting he noticed the people were chatting across the aisles about their mutual situation and socializing with friends.  When he reached the front his thoughts were on quieting the attendees and getting the meeting started.  His eyes scanned the crowd as he asked for quiet and it was then that he noticed a young girl about 11 years old sitting quietly in the front row, her face beaming with excitement.   Next to her, poised and ready for use, was a bright red umbrella.  The little girl's beauty and innocence made the priest smile as he realized how much faith she possessed.   No one else in the congregation had brought an umbrella.   All came to pray for rain, but the little girl had come expecting God to answer."

 

Unlike the young girl in this story, some of us pray but do not expect an answer, because from our standpoint the outlook is hopeless and grim.  We fall prey to doubt and fear when things change and corrupt our serenity.  Nothing will help, we think, so we slump into depression.  Why doesn't God listen to me?  And it is then that Satan steps in and whispers, "See, your God is not helping you."  And so, we think God does not hear us or will not help us.  What we forget is that God is listening and perhaps has something else in mind for us. 
 

The ropes that bind and make us useless to act or make viable decisions are not so strong that our Lord cannot set us free if it is His Will.   And there is no human relationship that is too strained or torn that God cannot repair, no habit so deep-seated that it cannot be overcome.  God sometimes takes us to a point of crisis so we can understand how great and loving He is.  The reality is that the trials we face are burdens we must carry to strengthen our faith, and even though we wring our hands in misery we must know that our prayers are being heard, and if what we ask for is right or good for us, He will give us the desires of our hearts.  If He says "NO", it may mean we must wait, knowing He has a greater plan for our lives.

"I begin by asking the question," Father Frank Pavone tells, “Why do we pray at all, when God already knows His own will and intends to carry it out?” As we know, in the model for all prayer, the Our Father, our Lord taught us to pray, “Thy will be done.” All our prayer is based on that attitude.  But certainly we don’t need to remind God to do things because He’s might be forgetful.

"So why do we pray?  Because God wants us to be involved in what He is doing! Of course He’s going to do His will. But our prayer really change things, because God wills that His decisions will rely in part on whether we pray and act".  Father Frank is one of the most prominent pro-life leaders in the world.

Theologian John Shea points our "that the cross occurs when there is a persistent striving toward righteousness in a world that is often self-righteous.  This is not exactly a comfortable position in which to be.  But every time his cross comes into our daily lives, it also opens up a way to the deeper divine life of God within our souls."  John (Jack) Shea is a theologian and storyteller who lectures nationally and internationally.  

"I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world. Is anything too hard for me?" Jeremiah 32:27 tells us. But trust and belief flies away when we become oppressed and fearful, bowed down in circumstances we cannot seem to overcome.  But always remember what Jesus told his disciples, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  - Matthew 19:26.  Consider the power of faith; the power of God, knowing if He commands it, it will be done.  Do not allow yourself to be under the dominion of disbelief or a captive of doubt.... oppressed and afraid.  We must persevere, tapping into the grace of God which He gives freely.  This life is a journey, one that we must travel, but we do not walk alone. 

 

Deacon Chris Sandner, Respect Life Coordinator for the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, in his homily on October 18, 2009, at Thomas Aquinas College states: " In our first reading  (Job 42:1-3, 12-17), we learn that complete trust in God is the heart of our own salvation. For his whole life Job had taken quite a beating. His health impeded him, and his friends turned on him. The more he tried to understand the world that God had placed him in, the more he seemed to suffer. When he had finally had enough and there was no place else to go, Job made the decision to simply submit himself to God's will fully and without question. Then finally, for the first time, Job experienced happiness, real happiness - not because he understood God better, but because he finally trusted God more."

 

Father Tommy Lane, S.S.L., S.T.D.  is an Associate Professor of Sacred Scripture at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on the campus of Mount St. Mary's University.   He remembers how he felt upon entering the seminary.  “How will I get through the rigors of seminary?   How can I become a priest?”  When Gideon doubted God,  He answered Gideon, “I shall be with you.” (Judges 6:16). ...Likewise for us in seminary, God is with us and what is impossible for humans is not impossible for God, for all things are possible for God.  Who would think, for an instance, that a lump of clay could become a beautiful teacup?" 

Fr. Lane continues.. "This is a story written by an unknown hand that tells:  "There was a couple who went to shop in a beautiful antique store. Seeing an exceptional tea-cup, they asked “May we see that?”  As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the tea-cup spoke, “I have not always been a tea-cup. There was a time when I was just a lump of red clay. My Master took me and rolled me, pounded and patted me and I yelled out, “Don’t do that. Let me alone,” but He only smiled, and gently said; “Not yet!” Then, Wham! I was placed on a spinning wheel and suddenly I was spun around and around. ‘Stop it! I’m getting so dizzy! I’m going to be sick!’

"But the master only nodded and said, quietly, ‘Not yet.’ He spun me and poked and prodded and bent me out of shape and then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I yelled and knocked and pounded at the door. “Help! Get me out of here!” “When I thought I couldn’t bear it another minute, the door opened.  He carefully took me out and put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. Oh, that felt so good! But, after I cooled He picked me up and He brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. ‘Oh, please; Stop it!’ I cried. He only shook His head and said. ‘Not yet!’ Then suddenly He put me back into the oven. It was twice as hot and I thought I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I was convinced I would never make it. Just then the door opened and He took me out and again placed me on the shelf, where I cooled and wondered ‘What’s He going to do to me next?’ An hour later He handed me a mirror and said ‘Look at yourself, you’re beautiful.’

"God knows what He is doing for each of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds to give us the opportunity to become the disciples He wants us to be.  Likewise for us in seminary, God is with us and what is impossible for humans is not impossible for God, all things are possible for God.  Who would think that a lump of clay could become a beautiful teacup?  God knows what He is doing for each of us.  He is the potter, and we are His clay.  He will mold us and make us, and expose us to just enough pressures of just the right kinds to give us the opportunity to become the disciples He wants us to be."   

This world is temporary and this life is brief.  Our years are precious for it is a time of "clean up", avoiding what the world is clamoring for us to be involved in and remembering what Jesus Christ taught us.  Do not let anyone make you veer away with sinful promises or stand in the way of your walk with Him.  Keep moving in courage.  Is this life easy?  No, it is not, but like that story of the teacup this is how God hones and makes us learn to depend on His everlasting grace, how we learn to love Him more for the strength He gives, for the courage He builds in us, and how He increases our belief in Him.  When He says no, He is not abandoning us, for if we stand close to Him, His presence through the Holy Spirit will be there through it all.