Is Prayer a Need or a Want?
In today’s world, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless in the face of challenges. Whether it’s financial difficulties, health issues, marital problems, or personal struggles, we often find ourselves asking why God doesn’t step in and help us when we need Him the most.
A recent conversation with my niece reminded me that perhaps the answer lies in our willingness to ask for help. My little niece couldn’t understand why God would require us to talk to Him and ask for help when He already knows what we need. It’s a question that has been asked by many throughout history including the disciples of Jesus on a stormy night. Matthew 8: 23–27.
Jesus was sleeping in a boat on a fateful night when they encountered a storm. His disciples were panicking because of that great storm. They looked at Jesus expecting to find Him on top of the situation, but instead, they found him sleeping. It led them to cry out, “Don’t you care that we perish?”
This is a sentiment that many of us share when we feel that God has refused to help us even though He is aware of our predicament. Sometimes we even feel He is being stringent for requiring us to pray before rendering His help.
But perhaps we could take a lesson from the man at the pool of Bethesda John 5: 2–8.
He had been waiting at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years to be healed, and when Jesus finally approached him, He didn’t heal him immediately. Instead, He asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man could have been offended because he wouldn’t be at the pool if he didn’t want to be healed. The man chose to explain his condition and Jesus healed him. Surprisingly, the bible didn’t mention any other healing taking place at the pool. Maybe it was because no one thought it necessary to ask Jesus to heal them.
Jesus bid Peter to join Him on the water in Matthew 14: 25–31. While walking on the water, Peter took his gaze from Jesus and he started sinking. Jesus knew Peter was sinking and He did nothing about it until Peter cried out, “Lord help me”.
The lesson here is that God wants us to communicate with Him. He wants us to ask for help and share our struggles with Him. It’s the same way parents want their children to come to them when they need help, and God is no different. He wants us to call on Him when we are sinking in the storms of life.
So, if you are struggling, don’t be afraid to cry out to God for help. He is waiting for you to ask, and He promises to answer when you do.
Call me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ Jeremiah 33:3
It may not always be in the way we expect or on our timeline, but He is faithful to His promises. So, take that step of faith and call on Him today, he’s waiting for you.
