Doing My Part
Today’s message was written by Guest Pastor, Chaplin Bob Griffiths.
A common refrain among people I’ve ministered to is “why didn’t God do ___?” Or “prevent ____?.” Or “answer my prayer?” The unspoken completion of these questions is “the way I want God to.” Some of these questions are to be expected when someone has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, or when a loved one dies unexpectedly – things beyond our control. But most are related to things that the questioner has some control over. So here are two related answers to questions like that. The first, I heard just recently from a friend: “God’s going to steer my boat, but I darn well better be rowing!” The second, more theological, is from an Episcopal priest who responded to a question like that from me 40 years ago, and it has stayed with me: “God’s love is not coercive.” In other words, God is not going to force anyone to do what they need to do.
And God is not going to do the work! God helps, supports, strengthens, and guides. I cannot remember the number of times I prayed for an outcome for myself and then did nothing to help make it happen. Ditto with the others I pray for to stop using drugs, lose weight, visit their Mom in the nursing home, pay down their debts, or anything else.
When I pray for God’s help for me or others, God opens a door – but I (and they) have to walk, climb, or hoist ourselves through it. The answer is there, always, on the other side of that door. Not the answer I think should be there, and certainly not in the time frame I desire, but rather the answer that’s right for me, delivered when God knows I’m ready for it and not before. And then I darn well better start rowing.
Let us pray. Lord of infinite patience, grant us the wisdom to seek your will for us and the power and desire to carry it out. Give us the willingness to open our hearts and our minds to you, trusting that you will show us the way to things that are better for us than anything we can desire or hope for. Then give us the strength, we pray, to do our part. Amen
Daily Message Author: Bob Griffiths
Bob is the former Chaplain at the Pines of Sarasota, southwest Florida’s oldest and largest not-for-profit senior care facility. Prior to joining the staff in 2010, Bob worked in hospice chaplaincy for seven years. He is the past Spiritual Life Director at St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Sarasota and is an Associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, an Episcopal Benedictine religious order.
