Studies on Prayer: Vol. 1Намуна

We are raised to work hard and make plans for the future. But no life turns out according to a plan. Our life is a road trip and every long trip has a detour or two. In an imperfect world, we should expect some imperfect outcomes. Sometimes our best plans do not work and even our best attempts to make good choices cannot guarantee or control the choices of others.

Jesus taught His disciples saying, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up this cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Surrendering our plans to God means learning how to follow instead of lead. That decision requires trust and faith in God and a daily choice to live submitted to the Spirit’s leadership. We pray so that we can submit our thoughts and ideas to God’s will for our lives. Prayer is our connection to God through His Spirit, who constantly reminds us to faithfully follow, not fight to lead.

“The patience of Job” is a common phrase to extol a person who bears up under difficult circumstances. We have all known people who have seemed to suffer more than their share of troubles. The book of Job is a wealth of Scripture on the very real presence of trials and trouble in our earthly lives. Scripture encourages us to seek God in prayer during tough times and ask for God’s mercies. Job offers a perspective on our prayers that is rarely taught, but profoundly important. We often think of Job as an innocent victim, unfairly blamed by family and friends for his misfortune. Job endures his trials, but at times, he endures imperfectly.

The great truth of Job is that no one is perfect, and our answers are found in recognizing and surrendering our will to God. Pray for the strength and wisdom to submit your thoughts and ideas to God as you study His word.

1. Why can suffering and trials cause us to doubt the existence or goodness of God?

Theodicy is the theological study of the relationship between human suffering and God’s divine justice. Human suffering is often the basis of a person’s struggle to maintain or place faith in God. Job loses his family, his possessions, and his friends, and reaches the point of losing his faith in God’s love. His struggles with others and with God are common to all people.

2. God speaks to Job after everyone else has offered an opinion, about the cause of Job’s trials. From Job 40:6–9, what does God want Job to understand about His divine character?

3. Why is knowledge of God’s character crucial to our prayer lives?

“Let God have your life; he can do more with it than you can.” —Dwight L. Moody