The Bible is filled with illustrations of God’s people speaking passionately with Him. We see this vividly in the Psalms. The psalmists honestly poured out their hearts to God. Psalm 73 is a great example:
This is what the wicked are like— always free of care, they go on amassing wealth. Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure and have washed my hands in innocence. All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments. If I had spoken out like that, I would have betrayed your children. When I tried to understand all this, it troubled me deeply till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny (12-17).
In the sanctuary of God, the answers to our supplications are found. In communing with our Father, we find understanding and reassurance in our most difficult and disturbing circumstances.
When facing His death on the cross, Jesus, the only perfect man, prayed: “Father, if there’s any other way, please let this cup pass from me.”
Suppose Jesus had decided to boycott the whole thing in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had that option, but instead He choose to willingly satisfy our debt: “I lay down my life…no one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
Jesus knew He had to go to the cross in order for us to be saved. Still, Jesus honestly agonized and cried out to the Father. He admitted how He hurt and how He dreaded what He knew was coming.
Can you doubt that the Father’s heart was torn by the cry of His Son? Yet, His love for us caused Him to allow Jesus to suffer this cruel death. This is the same love with which our Father loves us still. Because He loves us so much, He won’t always give us what we want.
In light of eternity, I know that God knows best, but because I struggle with supplication, I have to double my efforts in this area. I don’t just pray because I feel like it. I don’t just offer supplication from a spontaneously overflowing heart. I do it because it’s right. I do it because it’s an important part of having a healthy relationship with my heavenly Father. I practice supplication because God wants me to. I have to overcome my feelings and do what I know is right.
Do you have a weak pulse in some area of your prayer life? Are you going ahead and persevering in prayer in order to be spiritually healthy? God loves you and wants you to have life to the full.
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