Three Different Answers

Psalm 51:17, 2 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 26:36-46, Luke 22:42, Matthew 7:9-11

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If I asked you for something, if I asked you to do something for me, I suppose you could answer in at least one of three different ways.

You could answer yes. You could do exactly as I’ve asked you to do. Or give me exactly what I’ve asked you to give me.

You could answer no. You could simply not be able to or not be willing to do what I’ve asked, or give me what I’ve asked for.

Or you could answer differently. The answer might be yes, but not on the timetable, the time frame, that I’ve asked for. Or maybe your answer is yes, but you end up doing something very different, or a lot more than anything I’ve even asked for.

Well when we pray to God, when we come to him in prayer and ask him for things, God answers in those three ways as well. In Psalm 51, verse 17. God promises

A broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. (Psalm 51:17)

If I come to God in prayer or in church confessing my sin, and I ask him to forgive me, his answer there is an absolute yes. God doesn’t say, maybe, maybe next week. I’ll think about it. God doesn’t answer no. God’s answer is an unequivocal yes.

There are other times when I pray, when I ask God for something, and maybe his answer is no. For example, as he answered, when the Apostle Paul prayed to him concerning a what he called a thorn in his side, some kind of impediment, maybe it was a handicap, an illness which Paul was convinced would, if it were removed, would make him a better servant of the gospel. God’s answer was no. No, my grace is sufficient for you. My strength is made perfect, is perfected, in your weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Sometimes God answers no.

There’s comfort, I think, there. In the company of Saint Paul and of our Savior Jesus. He prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to have that cup pass from him. To not have to suffer for the sin of the world. If there was another way to save and redeem the world, and God the Father answered his own Son, his only begotten Son. No. (Matthew 26:36-46) So there is comfort in that company of our Savior and of Saint Paul.

There are other times when God’s answer might be different. Different from what we’ve asked. Not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42) Sometimes God’s will is very different than what we’ve asked. In Matthew seven verses nine through 11, Jesus says,

Who among you, if his son asks him for bread, would give him a stone? Or who, if his son asks for a fish, would give him a snake? Then if you know how to give good gifts to your children, even though you are evil, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:9-11)

What a gift, what a privilege we have in Christian prayer to come to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, knowing that through the Son, God loves us. God has our eternal welfare in mind and that we can ask him for anything and that he will answer. Sometimes yes, maybe. Sometimes no, maybe sometimes differently, but that he will answer in the absolute best and most loving way that there can be.

So my friends, keep up with your own prayers. Pray to God for whatever it is that you need, whatever worries and concerns are on your hearts and know that in Christ God will answer you.