Miracles versus process

So many people find it easier to pray for a “Miracle” but have great difficulty undergoing the process to getting one.

Every New Year, people write down their wish lists, aspirations, and concerns. They talk about their lists and prayers, or what to them would be a Miracle. But the minute you start pushing them towards the goal, they start putting up excuses or express why it’s so hard to get from the Wishing end to the Receiving end.

Ironically, we have no problem Knocking on heaven’s doors, sending up our prayers to the greatest, mightiest God of all universes and politely or desperately offer deals and promises in exchange for answered prayers. But many of us, particularly born and bred “Filipinos,” won’t knock on people’s doors with the same amount of daring to ask for help, a favor or assistance. They say it all revolves around the word “hiya” or face saving. Instead we fearlessly go before God because he’s not physically there, so it’s not as embarrassing as doing so before your boss or your parent.

I suspect it’s not about pride or saving face but a historical pattern in our culture where commoners and dependents regularly experienced rejection or embarrassment from their Señoritos, Señoras and Amos. Some of us got it from a generation of detached, non-expressive fathers who lived through or experienced the difficulty of war and subsequently got into the habit of denying things we asked for or dreamed off, telling us to work for it or earn it. People who get denied often enough eventually get the point or get tired and stop trying. So hoping against hope we turn to God just on the off chance that maybe we’ve been good enough to get a break or so pitiful that he will take mercy. And like I said, it’s worth it because unlike Simon Cowell, God’s not there to thumb you down or “X” you out of the contest.

A number of people I know have opted to suffer in silence rather than ask for help because they don’t want to be a burden to others. On the next level are people who are paralyzed by their inability to act, or simply feel defeated by constant rejection or absence of opportunities. Then there are those who by guilt or ignorance have dumped God in the same garbage bin as Amos, Ice Cold Dads or bosses with no compassion or a cosmic power that is so demanding you can’t pass muster.

For me, God operates on three levels when it comes to answering prayers and calls for miracles. The first level is the process where you put your faith where your mouth is and stop putting up reasons and excuses why you can’t ask people for help or won’t get help. As the apostle Paul wrote, you can not be double minded while asking for God’s blessing.

Every New Year, my wife Karen, our daughter Hannah and myself sit down for the family conference to discuss our plans, goals, concerns and place them on a wish list called our “Prayer list” each of us have inputs into that list which I in turn write out on white paper along with the names of friends, colleagues, business associates, church members, government leaders etc. for whom we will be praying for together every chance we have during every week for the entire year. That list gets laminated and we each have a copy so that we are synchronized and organized in praying to God. You keep praying and believing.

What’s on the list will be shared with prayer partners, BFFs, Bible study circle. That takes you to the next level or step 2 process because God still uses people to communicate with you the same way he used Moses, Prophets, apostles, etc to talk to Israelites because if he showed up at your door, your house would burn with you in it just from his sheer majesty and power! So forget the personal appearance or surprise celebrity visit. It would kill you.

Instead develop the ability of recognizing the people and circumstance that God has worked out to respond to your prayer or your need. Be open in heart, mind and hands to receive. The paradox in the situation is that while those in need are embarrassed to ask, there are so many people that God has primed and led to help others. They are ready and waiting like the ambulance or fire trucks on standby. But they can only move if someone calls for help or shouts: “FIRE!”

We spend so much time praying towards heaven when the first responders have already been deployed on the ground on this Earth, ready to help. Ironically, we won’t “Break Glass – in case of fire.” We just pray someone will smell the smoke. Why ask God but you won’t ask man for the same thing?  You don’t just ask God for it, you also go out and look for it or try to get it. It’s called dealing with your pride, your hurt, your fear and doing something about it! By letting people know about your needs or wish list, chances are the people God has set up for you, have the means or the very thing you need or wish for.

If you are one of those reluctant saints and managed to read this far, allow me to point out that God is in a far higher, unattainable league than imperfect parents, unreasonable bosses, or selfish Amos. That said, God is not a Cosmic Kill Joy who drops a penny just to watch us perform “good” tricks. God is willing and able.  Level three is where we try him by trying out our faith. “God meets you at the level of your faith.” The question is; what level is your faith at? Go and read the book of Mark 9: 14 – 29 where a father pleads with Jesus: “If you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him “If you can!”  All things are possible for one who believes. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

Believe and say thank you.

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