“Mark D. Stucky tells of the Kindergarten Sunday School class that was studying God’s care for us in times of trouble. The teacher had the youngsters draw pictures of things which made them afraid, then allowed them to explain what they’d drawn. Five-year-old Scott created a picture in vivid crayon showing a looming funnel cloud, a car and a man. He explained that the man could not get his car started, and the tornado was coming toward him. “The man really needs to pray, doesn’t he?” asked the teacher. Scott disagreed: “No, he needs to run!” The truth is, Stucky points out, that “we need balance in our lives. There is a time for prayerful piety and a time for deeds.””* Young Scott is right. There is a time to pray and a time to act. But the two things are not in competition with each other.
The Bible obviously encourages us to pray to God. The Scriptures are full of examples of faithful people doing just that, including the Son of God Himself. But the time also comes when our prayers need to grow arms and legs. Jesus spent time prior to His arrest fervently praying to God that the cup of suffering He would soon experience could pass from Him (Matthew 26:36-33). But He was careful to yield His own will to God’s will in the matter. When it was evident that the road to the cross still lay before Him, it was time to act upon His prayers. “Then He came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. “Get up, let us be going; behold, the one who betrays Me is at hand!”” (Matthew 26:45–46)
The difference between the first story and the story of Jesus is that He ran toward the tornado instead of away from it. He experienced and endured the storm so that I could escape it.
God loves you!
Mike
*preaching.com
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