Sunday 6^th April 2025

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,
who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.
Romans 8:28-29 (NIVUK)

How God answers prayer
I’ve recently read a book with the gripping title, I Prayed and Nothing Changed.  A moment’s reflection will reveal that we all know that experience.  We’ve all prayed for something, something good, and we’ve prayed for it for a long time – perhaps for someone to be healed, or for a relationship to be mended, or for a loved one to become a Christian, or to grows in some area of godliness – and all we got was silence.  What is God doing?

While reading that book I found myself one day singing this hymn by John Newton, reminding me that God’s ways are often not our ways, and yet they are good ways with a good end in view.  This hymn is certainly not a full answer to the question of why God doesn’t answer prayer, but it does help us to see that God may have good purposes that we can only barely imagine.

I asked the Lord that I might grow / In faith and love and ev‘ry grace,
Might more of His salvation know, / And seek more earnestly His face.

‘Twas He who taught me thus to pray, / And He, I trust, has answered prayer,
But it has been in such a way / As almost drove me to despair

I hoped that in some favoured hour / At once He‘d answer my request
And, by His love‘s constraining pow‘r, / Subdue my sins and give me rest.

Instead of this, He made me feel / The hidden evils of my heart
And let the angry pow‘rs of hell / Assault my soul in ev‘ry part.

Yea, more with His own hand He seemed / Intent to aggravate my woe,
Crossed all the fair designs I schemed, / Humbled my heart and laid me low.

“Lord, why is this,” I trembling cried; / “Wilt Thou pursue Thy worm to death?”
“‘Tis in this way,” the Lord replied, / “I answer prayer for grace and faith.”

“These inward trials I employ / From self and pride to set thee free
And break thy schemes of earthly joy / That thou may‘st find thy all in Me.”

Prayer
Lord, I don’t always understand the way you do things, and I often don’t like it, but I do want to trust that you are good and that your ways are good; help me to do that.  Amen. 

Yours warmly, in Christ,

Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)