It would be even worse to think of those who get what they…
““It would be even worse to think of those who get what they pray for as a sort of court favourites, people who have influence with the throne. The refused prayer of Christ in Gethsemane is answer enough to that. And I dare not leave out the hard saying which I once heard from an experienced Christian: ‘I have seen many striking answers to prayer and more than one that I thought miraculous. But they usually come at the beginning: before conversion, or soon after it. As the Christian life proceeds, they tend to be rarer. The refusals, too, are not only more frequent; they become more unmistakable, more emphatic.’ Does God then forsake just those who serve Him best? Well, He who served Him best of all said, near His tortured death, ‘Why hast thou forsaken me?’ When God becomes man, that Man, of all others, is least comforted by God, at His greatest need. There is a mystery here which, even if I had the power, I might not have the courage to explore.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Prayer may not always be answered as expected; divine responses can be rare, ambiguous, or seem absent, challenging believers to trust despite mystery.
In simple terms: Prayer answers are not guaranteed.
Key Takeaway
Trust God even when answers seem absent.
Themes
faith
prayer
divine mystery
Mood
contemplative
somber
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- personal crisis
- worship
- daily life
- spiritual doubt
Key Concepts
theodicy
spiritual growth
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do unanswered prayers test faith?
- How can suffering deepen belief?
A Different Perspective
Human understanding of divine will is limited.