Very often during my teaching days my students would ask me why their answers were never answered. They also asked me if my prayers were answered. I told them sometimes my prayers were answered but more often not.

I comforted them by saying that God would answer their prayers in many different ways and in His Time. But knowing them, most would be very skeptical because they are in the “Instant” generation of Instant Coffee, Instant Kampua, Instant On line, and Instant Google Answer. On our part, we have to pray that our younger generation would have to wisdom and discernment to KNOW God.

Recently I came across this old poem again. I hope it would help you dear readers to understand God and how He answers our prayers.

The Paradoxes of Prayer
I asked God for health that I might achieve;
God made me weak that I might obey.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
God gave me poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for strength that I might do greater things;
God gave me infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
God gave me life eternal that I might enjoy all things.
I received nothing that I asked for,
Yet much more than I hoped for.

Glory to God in Heaven.
Changyi
Grace Methodist Church, Miri