Reflections for Father's DaySample

Confident in Prayer  

I became a grandfather last year after much prayer.

My wife and I then realised that COVID-19 posed a risk to both our daughter-in-law and new-born Daisy, so the focus of our prayers changed from wanting a grandchild to protecting our grandchild, and her mother. It soon dawned on me why we needed to pray so hard, as God had promised to take care of things.

On first reading, the parable in Luke 11:5-10, suggests a neighbour (sometimes thought to represent God) only gets out of bed to help the friend because of the friend’s annoying persistence. Read this way, the parable suggests that God will give us what we need only if we badger him. And if we don’t pray hard enough, maybe God won’t help us.

Not so, as this view misunderstands the parable—its real point being that if neighbours might help us for selfish reasons, how much more will our unselfish Father help us. We can therefore ask confidently knowing that God is greater than flawed human beings. He isn’t the neighbour in the parable, but the opposite of him.

Do you pray without ceasing?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, today I bring you not only my needs but also the needs of others, confident that you will hear and answer, and grateful that it’s your goodness and not my words that count.