PRAY WITHOUT CEASING
Sakkie Parsons
Someone asked me:
"Why does God not always answer (give what they ask) His children, for example, if they ask Him for a child?"
My answer is related to prayer for a child but out of my viewpoint my answer is relevant on anything that His children can ask Him for.
I have to start by acknowledging that I, like you, do not know why our Lord has not given you a child yet, but I know one thing: This is the very best thing that has happened to you so far and the reason why I can say this you without hesitation, is because I read this from our Lord in His Word and He has, over and over again, confirmed it to me in my own life
Before I explain this from my own life, just the following:
MAT 7:9-11
9 Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?
11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Now it is true that we do not always get what we ask, despite what you have just read and in my opinion there are two reasons for that.
My children did not always get what they asked for.
Sometimes because it was not good for them and they never got it.
Sometimes because it was not good at that moment, but later they got it.
However, not one of the two times did they understand why I refused what they have asked for.
Paul tells us the following in connection of our Lord's actions towards us:
1COR 13:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
When I got cancer in 1997 and the doctor told me and my wife that if they cannot stop it, I have 3 to 6 months to live, I could not understand it at all – for I have this great desire to work for our Lord. I try so hard to walk in His ways and now He allows this to happen.
For more than a year I was treated and it was not a good experience but the worst thing for me was the psychological pressure that I had to process but you know, today when I pray, I thank our Lord regularly for that wonderful school that I could go through. Today I can understand why it happened.
You see, I have always asked our Lord that I want to work for Him and that He must give me the insight so that I can do my work worthy for Him.
Today I know why I had to walk that path because if a man asks my advice and to pray with him because he or his child or his wife or mother or father has cancer, I can do it wholeheartedly and I am able to give advice – because I was there (experiencing similar circumstances).
I never knew why I must be physically blind – but now if someone with a disability say to me it's not worth living anymore, I can show him or her it is worth living and that life can still be a feast – because I am there.
I thank our Lord for my circumstances every day.
For example, I'm blind, but I can still work for our Lord.
I could have had brain damage.
There are for example people who complain about cleaning dishware but there are people who do not have dirty dishes simply because they do not have food.
There was a time when I did not understand why all our children were taken away by the welfare from our parents.
I also did not understand why my one sister and one brother were given up for adoption by our parents, but today I thank our Lord for all my experience and I say like my great hero Paul.
PHI 4:11-13
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
For all of our Lord's children who read this writing and having the same problem, I can also say because I also have firsthand knowledge in my own life: Continue to believe.
You will get an answer. It may not be the answer you wanted, but it will be the best answer for you and remember:
1THES 5:16 Rejoice always,
1THES 5:17 pray without ceasing,
While we know this life is just a journey to heaven, and satan is making it as difficult as possible – let us persevere – so that we one day can say like my great hero Paul:
2 TIM 4: 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
And then, how glorious, to hear from our wonderful Lord the following words!
MAT 25:21 His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'
Greetings,
Sakkie