Lent Meditation

Bill Berger
Mar 4, 2024
2 min read

Reading:

1 “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,

he leads me beside quiet waters,

3 he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.”

~Psalm 23:1-3

(pause)

Reflecting:

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord.

9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

~Isaiah 55:8-9

Ever wonder about unanswered prayers? Does it make you angry, or does it make you wonder if God has something better? A wonderful promise in the book of Jeremiah where God says, ‘I know the plans I have for you…plans to give you a hope and a future.’ Thomas à Kempis prayed: ‘O Lord, you know what is best for me. Give what you will, how much you will and when you will.’

Though these prayers and scriptures are beautiful and assuring, often times I wonder if God really sees me and knows the conditions of my life. Does he care about the details? Does he know at times a doubt and question? It comes down to trusting God’s character. God is kind, loving, caring, and present.

Ask yourself: Is there an unanswered prayer that you thought was a good and fair prayer, but God hasn’t answered or has denied you? If so, pray that you will trust his care and foresight.

Tell God: I trust you with my circumstances and requests, knowing that you have good and fair plans for me.

(pause)

Wondering

Billy Graham’s wife Ruth said that ‘God has not always answered my prayers. If He had, I would have married the wrong man several times!’

With the benefit of hindsight, what passionate prayers are there in my past that I am now grateful God ignored?

Ask the Lord: Is it possible that the reason for my unanswered prayer is that God has a better way/plan? If so, I ask Him now to help me trust His alternative plan, even if every fiber in my being wants something completely different.

(pause)

Prayer: Dear God, I trust you with every detail of my life. Amen.

(pause)

Listening

Reflection of an unknown soldier from the Civil War:

‘I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.

I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey ...

I asked for health, that I might do great 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.