Almost every time I pray I ask for my family and friends to be blessed and kept safe, but what does keeping them safe really entail? What does blessing them really entail?
Do I mean for them to be healthy and kept out of accidents?
Do I mean for them to be comfortable and happy?
Will keeping them safe and blessing them bring them closer to God? I don’t know.
In Jeremiah 14:11-12
The Lord said to me: Do not pray for the welfare of this people. Although they fast, I do not hear their cry, and although they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I do not accept them; but by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence I consume them.
Was the Lord asking Jeremiah to refrain from praying for the welfare of these people because He knew that safety, comfort and blessings are not what would bring these people closer to Him? Is He saying that that they will only cry out to Him, present offerings from their hearts, and truly come closer to Him in times of war, famine and pestilence?
I am not sure, but reading this made me take a step back and wonder.
1. How often do I cry out to God in true joy and thanksgiving when I am safe, comfortable and blessed? Do these blessings help bring me closer to Him?
2. How often do I cry out to God in times of sorrow or conflict? Do these difficulties and challenges bring me closer to Him?
God wants us to cry out to Him regardless of whether it is in joy or misery. He wants to be there for us, He wants to be close to us and maybe sometimes we won’t let Him in until the difficult times arise.
God please help us to pray with humility knowing that we don’t know what is best, and help us to have faith that You do know what is best for all of us and will do everything in Your power to help us cry out to You.
Maybe my new prayer should be, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!