It is with great pleasure that I introduce my friend, fellow author, and guest blogger, Dasaya Cates, a fresh voice in the world of contemporary fiction. She primarily writes dramatic fiction and suspense; however Dasaya has a flair for sharp humor, as evidenced by her first novel, The Shark Pool. She is engaged in marketing herwork to a variety of audiences and is herself an avid reader. Dasaya is also a blogger and freelance writer. In addition, she frequently takes on technical writing projects, since she has more than ten years of experience in this area. Dasaya works as an instructional designer for a large company, so she is always writing. She is an Ohio native and alumna of The Ohio State University. In her spare time, you can find Dasaya cooking and baking, travelling, and working out. She is a member of the She Writes community online. You can find her tweeting @dc8s and on Facebook. To learn more about Dasaya, visit www.dasayacates.com.
”How many half truths did I bear witness to/’Til the proof was disproved in the end”? – “Holy”, Nichole Nordeman
One of the most critical parts of a Christian’s life is prayer. Yet it’s amazing how many don’t pray, and that goes for pastors too–surveys have proven that they are so busy mentoring, teaching, and otherwise leading their congregations, they have seldom time for prayer. My thoughts today aren’t on making time for prayer, though it’s an important foundation, but on our Christian beliefs on how God chooses to answer prayer.
Christians are very good at creating these “truths” and packaging them into wonderful little clichés until they’re “disproved in the end.” We have them for just about everything, you know. And of course, we have one for prayer! We all struggle with unanswered prayer, there’s no doubt about it. I’m sure it’s been said to you once or twice, “God answers prayer three ways: ‘Yes,’ ‘Not now,’ or ‘No’.”
I cringe.
Did you envision the face I made? I make that face for a few reasons. First, I am a Christian and I used to believe that. Secondly, I think about all the new Christians who are exposed to this bad theology. And finally, I cringe because there are so many of us who lack understanding, myself included, but the great thing is we can ask for wisdom … and get some. I submit that this is definitely not the way God answers prayer. How dare we ascribe such simplicity to the Mighty One who formed the Earth, considering the topography of this land, its water, and who thought to make the air different in Chile and in California? Come on, now. But if I had to compare apples to apples on this neatly wrapped Christian cliché, I’d say God says, “Yes” or “Wait.” Often we think “wait” means unanswered, but God tells us that while we are even speaking, he hears and answers (Isaiah 65:24).
I think what we interpret as “No” is really God’s “Wait” or his yellow light. The God who is just waiting to show us compassion (Isaiah 30:18) wants to change our hearts. The prayer that we pray changes. The thing we ask for but don’t need changes. Our perspective and vision morphs into what God wants for us so that we become in line with Him and then … green light. The Yes we’ve waited for is loud and clear. What I’m saying friends, is that isn’t a “No” but God’s silence, invoking us to seek and pray more.
And now to appeal to the bullet point lovers (like myself) let me sum this up:
A “no” answer doesn’t eliminate our freedom. God made us this way. He wants us to love Him with our whole hearts and chooses to limit Himself in His authority (I love this!) in that He will not force us to do His will. Instead, He creates a desire. But if you’re dead set on quitting your job and moving to San Francisco when it’s not in God’s plans, you’re free to go on and do it. God knows our hearts, so why would He give us a futile “no” if our flesh has already decided to proceed? I doubt God would waste such time. That certainly doesn’t mean He can’t turn it around for our good if He chooses to.
“No” doesn’t necessarily change our hearts. An offshoot of the above. I love sweets. When I was younger and candy was five, ten or twenty-five cents, a dollar could get you a whole big, bulging bag of treats like Now and Laters, Boston Baked Beans and Lemon Heads so sour they’d make you pucker. If my mother had let me eat the whole bag, I probably would have tried. As such, she had to assume authority over said bag. Just because she said no didn’t keep me from looking at that bag and longing for a Jolly Rancher. Same with us. The thoughts we keep turning over and over grow stronger and rarely would a “no” stop us in our tracks.
God’s silence (the “wait”) leads to DIY which leads to desperation. At times, we end up right where God wants us. We get so uncomfortable the only way to turn is to Him where we can get real answers. Usually, I’ve found, this is a result of a DIY. One of my favorite shows is Renovation Realities where people attempt to remodel their homes with no experience. Usually, they screw it up pretty bad and have to call help at some point. That’s what we do. We think we get a green light because that flesh is driving us and we have to end up calling help: the Father. We’re desperate. Funny how only then we can hear and see clearly. Our heart changed.
There are a lot of things us Christians believe, some of which can completely derail us in our walk. We have to get the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and that can only come from careful study of God’s Word followed by prayers for discernment. This is a great plug for my pastor’s upcoming series here–a new series entitled “Myths Christians Believe” is starting April 30 and if you’re in greater Columbus, we’d love to see you. Details at vineyardcolumbus.org. Keep disproving “truth”!
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