.
Col 4:2 . . Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
The koiné Greek word for "devote" is proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o)
which means: to persevere; viz: not give up and/or lose interest.
"And he spoke a parable unto them to this end: that people ought always to
pray, and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1)
For many of us, prayer is a last resort; a grasping at straws because we
simply have nowhere else to turn. We wish for progress with prayer, while
not really expecting it because we already know from plenty of experience
that prayer too often leads into a cul-de-sac of perplexity and
discouragement; so then, what's the use? In other words: prayer is very
difficult for some believers because it's often so futile.
Why doesn't the Bible's God respond? And if He's not going to respond, then
why keep on making a fool of ourselves trying to get through to an
imaginary playmate when all the while its phone is off the hook?
It was this very issue that led Mother Teresa of Calcutta to question whether
there really is a God out there. During virtually her entire five decades in
India, Teresa felt not the slightest glimmer of The Lord's presence and
suffered a good deal of anxiety wondering why Christ abandoned her.
I'm not making this up. You can read it for yourself in a collection of Teresa's
private letters titled Mother Teresa / Come Be My Light; The Private Writings
of the "Saint Of Calcutta" published with Rome's approval by Father Brian
Kolodiejchuk, director of the Mother Teresa center and a postulator for her
canonization.
In one of Teresa's private letters, penned to a Father Picachy, Teresa
complained: I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness &
coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.
In yet another letter, penned to a Father Joseph Neuner, S.J. Teresa again
complained: Now Father-- since 1949 or 1950 this terrible sense of loss--
this untold darkness-- this loneliness, this continual longing for God-- which
gives me pain deep down in my heart-- Darkness is such that I really do not
see neither with my mind nor with my reason-- the place of God in my soul
is blank-- There is no God in me-- when the pain of longing is so great-- I
just long & long for God-- and then it is that I feel-- He does not want me--
He is not there-- God does not want me-- Sometimes-- I just hear my own
heart cry out-- "My God" and nothing else comes-- the torture and pain I
can't explain.
In yet another letter, Teresa complained: When I try to raise my thoughts to
Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return
like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain-- I
have no faith.
If the most pious nun the 20th century ever produced found heaven's phone
off the hook for virtually five decades, then why should John Q and Jane Doe
pew warmer "devote" themselves to prayer? Can they seriously expect to
have any better luck than Teresa did? Yes; men ought to pray and not give
up. I'm not trying to countermand The Lord's instructions. All I'm saying is:
don't get your hopes up; but let me show you another angle:
C.S. Lewis, famed author of The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of
Narnia; once remarked that he prayed, not because he expected results but,
because it made him feel better. Well, if prayer makes you feel better, then
more power to you-- in point of fact, I highly recommend conversational
prayer because talking things out with somebody, even an imaginary
playmate, is far and away better than talking things out with nobody.
There are instances in the Old Testament where God actually sent His people
troubles just to get their attention and start them talking to Him again. Sort
of like a little boy in third grade spitting on the hair of a girl sitting in front of
him so she'll notice him. (chuckle) Well, if God spits on your hair, so to
speak, then maybe it's time you and He had a fireside chat.
_
Col 4:2 . . Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
The koiné Greek word for "devote" is proskartereo (pros-kar-ter-eh'-o)
which means: to persevere; viz: not give up and/or lose interest.
"And he spoke a parable unto them to this end: that people ought always to
pray, and not lose heart." (Luke 18:1)
For many of us, prayer is a last resort; a grasping at straws because we
simply have nowhere else to turn. We wish for progress with prayer, while
not really expecting it because we already know from plenty of experience
that prayer too often leads into a cul-de-sac of perplexity and
discouragement; so then, what's the use? In other words: prayer is very
difficult for some believers because it's often so futile.
Why doesn't the Bible's God respond? And if He's not going to respond, then
why keep on making a fool of ourselves trying to get through to an
imaginary playmate when all the while its phone is off the hook?
It was this very issue that led Mother Teresa of Calcutta to question whether
there really is a God out there. During virtually her entire five decades in
India, Teresa felt not the slightest glimmer of The Lord's presence and
suffered a good deal of anxiety wondering why Christ abandoned her.
I'm not making this up. You can read it for yourself in a collection of Teresa's
private letters titled Mother Teresa / Come Be My Light; The Private Writings
of the "Saint Of Calcutta" published with Rome's approval by Father Brian
Kolodiejchuk, director of the Mother Teresa center and a postulator for her
canonization.
In one of Teresa's private letters, penned to a Father Picachy, Teresa
complained: I am told God loves me; and yet the reality of darkness &
coldness & emptiness is so great that nothing touches my soul.
In yet another letter, penned to a Father Joseph Neuner, S.J. Teresa again
complained: Now Father-- since 1949 or 1950 this terrible sense of loss--
this untold darkness-- this loneliness, this continual longing for God-- which
gives me pain deep down in my heart-- Darkness is such that I really do not
see neither with my mind nor with my reason-- the place of God in my soul
is blank-- There is no God in me-- when the pain of longing is so great-- I
just long & long for God-- and then it is that I feel-- He does not want me--
He is not there-- God does not want me-- Sometimes-- I just hear my own
heart cry out-- "My God" and nothing else comes-- the torture and pain I
can't explain.
In yet another letter, Teresa complained: When I try to raise my thoughts to
Heaven, there is such convicting emptiness that those very thoughts return
like sharp knives and hurt my very soul. How painful is this unknown pain-- I
have no faith.
If the most pious nun the 20th century ever produced found heaven's phone
off the hook for virtually five decades, then why should John Q and Jane Doe
pew warmer "devote" themselves to prayer? Can they seriously expect to
have any better luck than Teresa did? Yes; men ought to pray and not give
up. I'm not trying to countermand The Lord's instructions. All I'm saying is:
don't get your hopes up; but let me show you another angle:
C.S. Lewis, famed author of The Screwtape Letters, and The Chronicles of
Narnia; once remarked that he prayed, not because he expected results but,
because it made him feel better. Well, if prayer makes you feel better, then
more power to you-- in point of fact, I highly recommend conversational
prayer because talking things out with somebody, even an imaginary
playmate, is far and away better than talking things out with nobody.
There are instances in the Old Testament where God actually sent His people
troubles just to get their attention and start them talking to Him again. Sort
of like a little boy in third grade spitting on the hair of a girl sitting in front of
him so she'll notice him. (chuckle) Well, if God spits on your hair, so to
speak, then maybe it's time you and He had a fireside chat.
_