Dear Fellow Children of God,
How does God answer prayer? I have heard that question many times before
from folks who are praying hard and not seeing what they consider to be an
answer. There is a somewhat “canned” answer
which I’ve heard many times in response to this question. I’ve been told that God may say “Yes,” or say
“No,” or say . . . “Wait.” There is
truth in this response. But, I too have
asked how God answers prayer. I’m not
sure that explanation is very comforting.
Recently I wrote about sharing with
others that I had been praying for them, or for their loved ones. Jesus promises, and I trust His words, that
God always hears and does answer our prayers.
“7 Ask and it
will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened
to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who
knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8) I also believe Jesus’ words that when our
heavenly Father answers our prayers He always responds with what is good for
us. “If
you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! “ (Matthew 7:11) This teaching of Jesus doesn’t promise that
God gives us what we want, but that He gives what is good. My experience is
that our Lord answers different prayers in different ways, perhaps because what
is good for our eternity might differ from request to request.
So, let me share with you two different experiences which
I believe are God’s recent answers to prayer.
First, I have been praying for a young woman for over two years. She has been very ill and her prognosis has
not been good. I have prayed for this
woman daily asking that God would perform a miracle and heal her, knowing that
God has the ultimate wisdom. However, I
have also prayed that God would act in such a way that she and her family might
see our Lord’s love in her life, and that they might recognize that love, even
in the midst of her illness. I saw this
young lady recently for the first time in a long time. The last time I saw her she was experiencing
visible symptoms of her illness and I feared for her life. But, when I saw her this time, after over 2
years of prayer, she looked healthy and strong and happy. Her illness is still there, but I saw her
improvement as God’s grace in her life.
I continue to pray that she and her family may see and recognize that
love of God. I will also continue to pray
for miraculous healing.
However, I don’t just pray for others, I also pray for
myself and for my life as a child of God.
I pray for my faith, for wisdom, humility, for strength to live a holy
and righteous life. I pray for health,
and, for about a year now, I have prayed that God might lead me to use my
retirement as a ministry. I put stars in
my prayer list by those requests I want to pray for every day. The young lady I
mentioned above has a star by her name on my prayer list. When I pray for myself, I have stars beside
my personal prayer for faith, and by my petition to use my retirement as a
ministry.
On July 26, I was sitting in Bible
Class at St. John. Jim Summers has been
teaching this summer on gospel hymns and the scripture verses behind them. On this particular Sunday we were looking at
a Fanny Crosby hymn, and the verse which inspired the hymn, Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” There was something about this
verse and the class that struck me that day.
I was led to ask myself if I was living the Christ-life of faith and
service. Am I carrying my cross? I have really enjoyed my retirement and been
able to do a lot of fishing and golfing.
I asked myself, “Am I really using my retirement as service to God and a
blessing to others?
The next day
as I was completing my morning devotions I was also praying for St. John. Since my retirement, St. John is in the “call
process,” preparing for a new pastor and shepherd. On my prayer list for St. John I have 2 items
with stars by them, “The Call process,” and “COVID-19.” The coronavirus has created havoc in most
sectors of our lives, including the church.
This illness was not even on the horizon when I retired. But, with this new challenge, I wondered if
there wasn’t some way I should be helping to deal with this issue. I prayed God would allow me to do so. That was in the morning of July 27.
Later that day
I was sitting in a parking lot outside a UPS store waiting for my wife to go
through fingerprinting for work purposes.
She was in there for a looong time.
While I sat in the vehicle waiting, I received a phone call from St.
John head Elder, Ann Marie Svedin.
“Pastor Rockey, the call committee thinks that trying to call a new
pastor during the pandemic is not necessarily wise. We asked Pastor Schultz to extend his service
for another 2 years until September 2022.
He indicated that he had worked very hard this last year, with no
vacation, and indicated that, if he extended, he needed help. He asked us to ask you to return ¼ time to
help him. He especially wants to reach
those who may have fallen through the cracks in this pandemic. Would you consider returning to serve ¼
time?” I was truly surprised. I didn’t ask about finances, but did ask if I
would still be able to travel and see family in Florida. I asked what I would be doing. I was told that this is all flexible as long
as Pastor Schultz and I might work it out.
I also thought about my prayers that morning concerning my retirement,
and concerning the coronavirus.
When Kathy
came out of the UPS store I told her about the phone call. I told her about my prayers that
morning. We discussed the request together. I also sought counsel from others. We prayed about the offer. When I asked Kathy about a week later what
she thought, she said, “Well, I wanted at least six months with you, and it has
been over 10 months. I was afraid I made
you retire when you didn’t want to do so.
I think this is about as perfect an opportunity as could be to continue
to have time together and for you to do what you are good at.” In an August 9 meeting I told the Church
Council that I would accept their offer.
Beginning September 15 I will help Pastor Schultz while he serves as
interim, and then step down when the new pastor comes. The congregation was informed in worship on
August 23.
We should not
be surprised that God does answer our prayers.
After all, consider God’s word in Romans. “He
who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all-- how will he not
also, along with him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
God sent His SON for us! He not
only cares about our eternity, He cares about our lives today.
How does God
answer prayer? I try to be careful not
to replace God’s answers to prayer with my desires. But, for now I am hearing God’s answers to my
prayers in these recent events. Have you seen any recent answers from
our Lord in answer to your prayers?
A Child of God, Still Surprised by God’s Answers to
Prayer,
Pastor Jonathan
P.S. When I took my grandchildren fishing on August
17, only 8 year old Henry did not reel in a fish. He tried diligently to catch a silver, not a
pink, but only his older sister, Emma, caught one. On Friday, August 28, I took Henry fishing to
right that wrong. The limit had
increased to two fish. Bait was now
allowed. Henry did WELL! He even had two fish on the same line! But, I was only able to net one! L https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zoc7r1sohfLxwNsK8
P.P.S. I also did
some other fishing this past week. On Wednesday,
August 26, I took my friend Paul Scott and his wife, Carolyn Purser, fishing. They had also bought a trip about a year ago
at a Kiwanis Auction. However, this I
the first time we could actually get out.
It also was a good day! https://photos.app.goo.gl/bqitZj4zUk8NcQct8
P.P.S. I had planned
to leave for moose hunting on Monday, August 31, but delayed a few days. I have an “any-bull permit” and will be gone with
Gerry Zellar until we find a moose to shoot.
*****
ABOUT THIS DEVOTION - I am now
retired from serving as senior pastor of St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer,
AK. My weekly devotion was previously titled, "Thoughts from the
Pastor." However, with life's changes I now call the devotion
"Journeys Through Life as a Child of God." I am only sending
this message to those who have asked to receive it. If you know someone
else who desires to receive this message, have them e-mail me at jonrock53@mtaonline.net.
I will include them on my distribution list. You can also view this message on
my Facebook page.
HOWEVER, A NUMBER
OF PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME WHY THEY ARE NO LONGER RECEIVING MY DEVOTIONS. Since I’m only sending these e-mails to
people who ask for them, many are no longer receiving these messages. BUT, if you read this on Facebook and like to
receive these devotions by e-mail, or if you know someone who would like to
receive these devotions, send me an e-mail at jonrock53@mtaonline.net, and I will add
you to my distribution list.
Child of God
Husband, Father, Son, Grandfather
Pastor Emeritus, St. John Lutheran Church
E-Mail: jonrock53@mtaonline.net
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