(J.R. Miller, “The Glory of the Commonplace”)
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“We do not know what we should pray for as we ought.” Romans 8:26
A minister sat with a father and mother by the bed of a child who was hovering between life and death. He was about to pray for the little sufferer, and turning to the parents he asked, “What shall we ask God to do?” After some moments the father answered, with deep emotion: “I would not dare to choose–leave it to God.”
Would it not be better always to leave the decision to God, letting Him choose what it is best for Him to do for us or to give to us? We are not in the world to always have ease and pleasure, to always succeed, to do great things. Because we are here to grow into strength and beauty of life and character, to accomplish the will of God, and to have that will wrought out in our own life.
But ofttimes . . .
the present must be sacrificed for the future;
the earthly given up to gain the heavenly; and
pain endured for the sake of spiritual refining and enriching.
Christ does not seek to take away the burden–rather, He would make us strong and brave to bear it.
However, if we are willing to let God choose for us, and accept what He gives–we shall never fail to receive the best. Perhaps not what the world would call the best–but always God’s best. We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, and we had better leave it to God.
We should be content to leave the guidance and choices of our lives in His hands.
Think how wise He is–knowing all things, knowing how to choose the best for us. Who does not know that this is better, safer, wiser than if we were to choose the way for ourselves?
The truest prayer is often that in which we creep into the bosom of God and rest there in silence. We do not know what to ask, and dare not say even a word, lest it might be the wrong word. Hence simply wait before God in quietness and confidence. We know that what is best–our Father will do, and trust Him to do what He will.
Therefore, we are sure that God could relieve us of the things which are so hard for us to bear–could, if He desired to. This is God’s world, and nothing can get out of His hands. All we have to do is to lay our need before the throne of mercy, and to let God answer us as He will.
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