Short vs. long prayers and God's will

[Zarozinnia]

Just wondering…how is it that sometimes you can offer up a tiny, quick prayer and get an answer right away, then sometimes you can spend years praying long prayers every day with seemingly no answer. I guess it is because of what is God’s will. It is just very interesting.

 

[archangel63]

It’s all about His will.
I don’t think it matters if it’s long or short…as long as you’re in communion with God. This is what makes Him happy.
He will only answer prayers that are for your own good.
Sometimes it is what we go through during that period of prayer that is necessary in order to have the prayer answered.
And as anyone knows who has suffered…it brings you closer to God. When life is going just fine we tend to not be as close to God. Sometimes I think he likes to keep us close…
Does that make sense???

 

[Zarozinnia]

Yes, thank you. That makes sense. I am starting to learn to accept and pray “thine will be done” and know that whatever happens it is good because it is God’s will. This definitely gives me a sense of peace. In the past I have experienced the falling away of communion with God and I never want to let that happen again! I always want to remember God in my happiness as well as any sadness. Thanks again!

 

[archangel63]

Right now there is something I want that He is not ready to give me yet, and I do believe it’s for my own good. Yet I am sufferingly greatly and He knows this. But there is a reason. I’m not being punished or ignored. Anything you ask of him he will eventually give you. I think God is more concerned about taking care of our “needs” than our “wants”. You know? Also, His graces are usually for the benefit of our souls and not for our earthly happiness. He knows what’s better for me than I myself do. That’s how great He is!

After my usual prayers I like to talk to God one on one…like He’s sitting right across from me. I pour out all my worries and tell Him that if he can’t grant me my requests than may His will be done. Oh, and pray for peace of mind, because if you have peace of mind you can handle any situation bad or good.

Here’s a good prayer that means alot to me. It’s especially comforting when you might feel God isn’t hearing you:

Let nothing disturb you;
nothing frighten you.
All things are passing.
God never changes.
Patience obtains all things.
Nothing is wanting to him who possesses God.
God alone suffices.

 

[ricmat]

Just wondering…how is it that sometimes you can offer up a tiny, quick prayer and get an answer right away, then sometimes you can spend years praying long prayers every day with seemingly no answer. I guess it is because of what is God’s will. It is just very interesting.

Somthing else you might want to think about is that prayers can be answered in many ways:

1. Yes.
2. No.
3. Yes, but not yet (you’re not ready for it).
4. Yes, but the prayer will be “answered” in a way you didn’t expect.

 

[Sheeniac]

Just wondering…how is it that sometimes you can offer up a tiny, quick prayer and get an answer right away, then sometimes you can spend years praying long prayers every day with seemingly no answer. I guess it is because of what is God’s will. It is just very interesting.

Those prayers you may spend years on - God answers you daily: not today. Perhaps the answer will always be No.

Archbishop Sheen suggested for us to think of the strings of a violin being tuned. If we look at it from the point of view of the strings, the tuning would appear to be pointless torture. But eventually the pain and the longing for a different existence causes beautiful music to be heard. The strings could never understand this until it was over.

And so it will be with us. A ‘not today’, or a ‘No’ may be His tuning.

 

[archangel63]

Archbishop Sheen suggested for us to think of the strings of a violin being tuned. If we look at it from the point of view of the strings, the tuning would appear to be pointless torture. But eventually the pain and the longing for a different existence causes beautiful music to be heard. The strings could never understand this until it was over.

Very cool analogy!