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WHY PRAY, IF IT DOESN’T ALWAYS “WORK”?

February 6, 2015 By Sarah Christmyer Leave a Comment

(Traducción en español al final)

I heard twice from a friend last week, big news about others:  one, a mutual acquaintance who suffered years after an accident that left him paralyzed from the neck down, who then got cancer.  His funeral this month was a testimony to his faith and the joy he found, in spite of his suffering, in Jesus.  The other, a man in his 80s in the final stages of lung cancer, was prayed over and miraculously cured!

Two men, both with cancer.  Both suffered.  Both believed, and both were prayed for.  One died, the other lived.

Why do we pray, if God doesn’t always cure or help in the way we would like him to?  What good is faith, if it doesn’t “work”?

It all depends on what you mean by “work.”

Was Jesus’s faith vain, because he went to the Cross?  God had a plan deeper than that suffering, a plan that defeated death by transforming it into a door to everlasting life and glory!  Faith is about trusting that His plan, even if it goes through suffering, ends up in something so much greater that all the darkness in the world can’t stand against its light.  Faith is about dropping our small notions of what brings blessing, and trusting in the God who loves us.

Sometimes, God will save us now.  He will change our circumstances, free us from whatever is binding and slowing us down.  Other times, he allows the situation to stay and take its course.  Faith means trusting that when he does, it’s out of love and in order to bring about a great, eternal good for us.  We turn to God in prayer because we believe in his love.  We may not be freed from pain and suffering – but he will give us his indescribable peace.  Freedom from anxiety, from uncertainty and doubt; freedom from fear.

That’s why St. Paul could say, even from prison, even with his life in danger, even burdened by the needs of all the new churches he established:

Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

–Philippians 4:4-7 (NAB)

Consider writing that down on a little card.  Tape it to your bathroom mirror, or your dashboard, or over the kitchen sink: wherever it can remind you, when you’re worried, to lift your eyes to God in thanks and trust, and rest in his love.  And “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing!” (Romans 15:13)

+ + + + + + +

¿PARA QUÉ ORAR? SI NO SIEMPRE “FUNCIONA”.
Por Sarah Christmyer (Traducción de Ana Lilia Galván de Tiscareño)

La semana pasada, en dos ocasiones escuché por parte de un amigo grandes noticias acerca de alguien mas: uno, un buen compañero que había sufrido por años después de que un accidente lo había dejado paralizado del cuello hacia abajo, a quien después le dio cáncer. Su funeral éste mes, fue un testimonio de su fe y de la alegría que encontró en Jesús, a pesar de su sufrimiento. El otro, un señor en sus 80’s en la etapa final de cáncer del pulmón, ¡Por quien habían orado y quien milagrosamente se sanó!

Dos hombres, ambos con cáncer. Los dos sufrieron. Los dos creyeron, y por los dos oraron. Uno falleció, el otro vivió.

¿Por qué oramos, si Dios no siempre nos sana o nos ayuda de la manera que nosotros deseamos que El lo haga? ¿De que sirve la fe, si no “funciona”?

Todo depende a lo que nos referimos con “funciona.”

¿Fue vana la fe de Jesús, por el hecho de que llegó a la Cruz? ¡Dios tenía un plan mucho mas profundo que ese sufrimiento, un plan que derrotó la muerte al transformarla en una puerta de gloria y vida eterna!
La fe es acerca de confiar en Su plan, aunque sea a través del sufrimiento, termina en algo mucho mas grande, que ni toda la obscuridad del mundo podría opacar su luz. La fe se trata de dejar nuestras pequeñas nociones de lo que nos trae bendiciones y confiar en el Dios que nos ama.

A veces, Dios nos ayudará en el momento. Cambiara nuestras circunstancias, nos librara de cualquier cosa que nos mantenga atados. Otras veces, permite que la situación permanezca y siga su curso. La fe significa que cuando actúa, lo hace por amor y para darnos un bien eterno. Pedimos a Dios con oración porque creemos en su amor. Puede que no nos libre del dolor y sufrimiento –pero nos dará su indescriptible paz. Libres de ansiedad, de incertidumbre y de la duda; libres de temor.

Por eso San Pablo podía decir, incluso desde la prisión, aún con su vida en peligro, incluso agobiado por las necesidades de todas la nuevas iglesia que había establecido:
“Estad siempre alegres en el Señor; os lo repito, estad alegres. Que vuestra mesura sea conocida de todos los hombres. El Señor está cerca. No os inquietéis por cosa alguna; antes bien, en toda ocasión, presentad a Dios vuestras peticiones, mediante la oración y la súplica, acompañadas de la acción de gracias. Y la paz de Dios, que supera todo conocimiento, custodiará vuestros corazones y vuestros pensamientos en Cristo Jesús.
-Filipenses 4, 4-7 ( Biblia de Jerusalén)

Considera escribir en una pequeña tarjeta. Pégala al espejo de tu baño, en tu tablero o encina del lavabo de la cocina: en donde sea que te recuerde, cuando estés preocupado, recuerde levantar tus ojos a Dios en agradecimiento y confianza, y descansa en Su amor.
“El Dios de la esperanza os colme de todo gozo y paz en vuestra fe, hasta rebosar de esperanza por la fuerza del Espíritu Santo” -Romanos 15,13 (Biblia de Jerusalén)

Fuente:
http://comeintotheword.com/?p=982

Filed Under: Prayer & Lectio Divina, Scripture Reflection Tagged With: anxiety, faith, lectio divina, prayer

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Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

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