Unanswered Prayers

I asked God for strength that I might achieve. I was made weak that I might learn to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things. I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy. I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am, among all men, most richly blessed. – Admiral Chester Nimitz

In high school and throughout college I dated a girl that I was convinced was “The One”. She was amazing on a number of different levels. She was talented, kind, caring, and, well, she was also incredibly pleasing to the eye. (I would have said she was hot, but as a pastor I’m not sure that is appropriate, so I’ll leave it at that.)

We dated for five and a half years and I remember at various points in that relationship praying that God would bless us and that ultimately we would one day be married. One Christmas I even bought her an engagement ring! As you can probably probably guess given the title of this post, we never made it to the wedding day. Things fell a part pretty quickly after the ring was exchanged. We both realized that it wasn’t what we wanted and that was that. Though, there were still times in the midst of my loneliness that I called out to God to bring her back. Thank goodness God didn’t pick up the phone on that one.

As I’ve worked on my sermon this week on unanswered prayers I’ve tried to imagine what my life would have been like if God had answered that prayer. First and foremost, I don’t think I’d be a pastor right now. You see, my call came in the midst of loneliness and depression, wondering if this was all the world really had to offer. A big part of those feelings came as a result of the end of that relationship. It was as I struggled with these things that God spoke a word of peace into the storm of my life. That word also came with a vision of ministry, and I new in my heart this was where God was calling me.

If God had answered that prayer I most likely would have continued my studies in Music Theory and Composition, heading off to graduate school after college with wife in tow to pursue my dream of being a world famous composer. Instead, I became a religion major and poured myself into my faith. After college, being that I was single and poor I moved back home with my folks and took a job as a manager at Gigglebees, a local family restaurant in Sioux Falls, SD.

If God had answered that prayer I never would have met my wife who was attending college in Sioux Falls. She was my college friends sister-in-law, and after complaining to my friend about how I was going to be single my whole life his wife introduced us.

If God had answered that prayer I wouldn’t have decided to hang around Sioux Falls a little bit longer to see where this new relationship would lead. I wouldn’t have taken the job at Sunnycrest UMC  as the music and youth pastor. I wouldn’t have helped them start a new service that today continues to grow and bring new folks into the church. I wouldn’t have been able to reach into the lives of those young folks for God and share with them the good news of Christ in their lives.

If God had answered that prayer, I never would have lived in Denver where I attended seminary with my beautiful bride. I never would have fallen in love with snowboarding, and deeper in love with my wife. I never would have known the heartache of miscarriage and the strength of a love that can overcome all adversity.

If God had answered that prayer, I never would have learned that “I Can!” at Burns Memorial, or patience and perseverance at Mitchell 1st, or the joy of friendship and the power of ministry in DeSmet–and the awesomeness that is pheasant hunting!–or the movement of the Holy Spirit at Grace.

If God had answered that prayer, I’d probably still be overweight and unhappy. I wouldn’t know Eliese, or Grace, or Myles. If God had answered that prayer, I wouldn’t be the person God has called me to be.

As it is, God didn’t answer that prayer and for that I give him all the glory and all the praise.

This Sunday at Grace, we will be dealing with unanswered prayer. Please come, and bring a friend as we discuss what it means when God doesn’t answer our prayers.