Acts 16:9-15; Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27; John 16:23-33

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

“It never hurts to ask.” “The worst they can say is no.” There’s something about humans that we never like asking for help. We have to convince ourselves to do it with statements such as these. Call it pride or whatever. But it never fails that we’d rather stay silent while being in need than speak up and risk humiliation. How often though do we ask for help and are surprised by the help given? We know the answer isn’t always yes, but it’s not always no either. 

For this reason, it doesn’t surprise me that we often treat prayer this way too. We wait until things are truly desperate before thinking about praying to God. Prayer has long been seen as a “last resort” by many Christians. Perhaps we worry too much about how God will answer. What if He says no? What if He thinks its unimportant? What if I ask it in the wrong way? 

In our Gospel reading, Jesus is with his disciples in the upper room, prior to his passion. He’s teaching them all about the time when he will be gone. While this is a reference to his death on the cross, it sits well within our Church year to help us contemplate Jesus’ Ascension into heaven (officially celebrated this year on May 29). “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father,” John 16:28. Jesus wants them to know that even though he is no longer with them physically, that shouldn’t stop them from petitioning the Father. They shouldn’t be afraid to speak to the Father directly “for the Father himself loves you…” John 16:27.

What should stop us then from praying to the Father? There is indeed no shortage of things for which to ask. Jesus’ words ring true for us, as he said, “In the world you will have tribulation,” John 16:33. In this world, we face the assaults of the devil and the world daily. Shortages of food, medicine, money, and basic supplies leave us anxious and worried about caring for ourselves and our families. Afflictions of the flesh, namely diseases, pain, health problems, stress, anxiety, and the like fill up our plates with more than we can handle. To top it all off, temptations leave us spiritually drained and wanting any sort of relief. 

Let us pray! Why must we waste away in silence when we have a Heavenly Father who loves us and delights to give us good things? “Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you… Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full,” John 16:23-24. Run to your Heavenly Father with all your hurts and sorrows. Speak to Him as a beloved child of God knowing He will listen and answer your prayers. I once had it explained to me this way: God’s a big guy… there’s nothing so big He can’t handle it, nor is there anything so small that He doesn’t care. For the Father sent to you His one and only Son, Jesus Christ. He gave him up to death, even death on a cross that he may forgive you all of your sins and give you all that is good. So, hear Jesus say, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world!” John 16:33. So, how much more shall we pray to God our Father, knowing that in Christ, He has already overcome all things!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!