Introduction
Prayer is one of the most fundamental aspects of a believer's life. It's our direct line to God, a sacred communication that transcends words and enters into the very presence of the Almighty.
Yet, prayer can often be misunderstood or misused, especially when we face prolonged periods of waiting for an answer.
Today, we will explore the concept of "praying until something happens" and the significance of praying within the will of God. We’ll discuss what it means to persevere in prayer, how to align our prayers with God’s will, and the profound impact this has on our spiritual lives.
The Power of Perseverance in Prayer
The phrase "pray until something happens," often abbreviated as P.U.S.H., encourages believers to remain steadfast in prayer until they receive an answer from God. This concept is rooted in the Bible and can be seen in various accounts of persistent prayer.
Consider the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18:1-8.
Jesus told His disciples this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. The widow, though facing a corrupt judge who neither feared God nor cared about people, kept coming to him with her plea, "Grant me justice against my adversary." Eventually, because of her persistence, the judge granted her request.
Jesus concludes by saying, "And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly."
The parable underscores the importance of persistence in prayer. It teaches us that God values our faithfulness and determination.
When we continue to pray, we demonstrate our trust in God’s timing and His sovereignty.
However, persistence in prayer does not mean we are trying to wear God down or force Him into action. Instead, it reflects our reliance on Him and our recognition that He alone can answer our prayers.
The Challenge of Unanswered Prayers
One of the most challenging aspects of prayer is dealing with unanswered prayers.
We’ve all experienced moments where we’ve prayed earnestly, perhaps even for years, only to feel like our prayers are falling on deaf ears.
But Scripture reassures us that God hears every prayer (1 John 5:14-15), and His silence is not an indication of His absence or indifference.
When faced with unanswered prayers, it’s important to remember that God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8-9).
Sometimes, what seems like a delay is actually God’s way of preparing us or the situation for His perfect timing. Other times, God may have a different plan altogether—one that we cannot yet see or understand.
This brings us to the crucial aspect of praying within the will of God.
While "pray until something happens" encourages perseverance, it must be balanced with a submission to God's will. True, effective prayer is not about bending God’s will to match ours, but about aligning our desires with His.
Praying in the Will of God
Praying in the will of God is a concept deeply rooted in Scripture. In 1 John 5:14-15, it is written: "This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him."
In this passage, John emphasizes the importance of aligning our prayers with God’s will.
But how do we know what God’s will is?
The primary way is through His Word. The Bible is full of promises, principles, and commandments that reveal God’s will for our lives.
When our prayers are rooted in Scripture, we can have confidence that we are praying according to His will.
For example, if we pray for wisdom, we know that God will grant it because James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
Similarly, if we pray for the strength to overcome sin, we can be assured that God will help us because it is His will for us to live holy lives (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
However, there are times when we don’t know exactly what God’s will is for a specific situation.
In these cases, we should pray with a heart of surrender, seeking God’s guidance and being open to whatever answer He provides.
Jesus Himself modeled this kind of prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Facing the agony of the cross, He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).
His prayer was one of deep anguish, but also of complete submission to the Father’s will.
The Intersection of Persistence and Submission
The balance between praying persistently and praying in the will of God can be challenging. It requires both faith and humility.
We must be like the persistent widow, bringing our requests before God continually, yet also like Jesus in Gethsemane, ready to accept God’s will even if it means a different outcome than we desire.
When we pray persistently and in the will of God, we open ourselves to a deeper relationship with Him.
Our prayers become more than just requests; they become a dialogue, a way of aligning our hearts with His.
Over time, we may find that our prayers begin to change. As we grow closer to God, our desires begin to mirror His.
We start to pray less for what we want and more for what He wants. This is the transformative power of prayer.
The Outcome of Faithful Prayer
When we pray until something happens, with our hearts fully surrendered to God's will, we can be assured that God is working—even if we don't see immediate results.
Our persistence in prayer builds our faith, teaches us patience, and deepens our trust in God.
Meanwhile, our submission to His will ensures that our prayers are in harmony with His divine plan, which is always for our good.
Romans 8:28 reminds us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." This verse is a powerful reminder that God is always at work, even when we cannot see it, and that His plans for us are always good.
Conclusion
Praying until something happens and praying in the will of God are not mutually exclusive concepts but rather complementary aspects of a vibrant prayer life.
As we persist in prayer, we must also seek to align our desires with God’s will, trusting that He knows what is best for us.
We should engage in a prayer life that is not only persistent but also powerful and transformative, leading us into a deeper relationship with God and a greater understanding of His purposes.
May we all be encouraged to pray with perseverance and faith, always seeking God’s will in our lives.
Let us approach His throne of grace with confidence, knowing that He hears us, loves us, and is working all things together for our good.
