virtues

Lately I have contemplated prayers, intentions, and how God answers our requests for help. On the Catholic Answers forums, I see so many people angry or saddened because they feel so distant from God and they wonder if He isn’t hearing their prayers. I understand how easy it is to feel discouraged when the news headlines are filled with stories of violent crimes, wars, and civil unrest not to mention the unreported hardships we all face about our jobs, family, finances, relationships, etc. You look at all the problems in this world and it is easy to conclude that God just doesn’t care. However, what I think happens more often is that we fixate on a specific solution and completely miss how God actually answers our prayers.

Here’s an example of God answering prayers in unexpected ways taken from my own experiences. Like many people, I pray in a general sense that I may be stronger in the seven virtues of chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience, kindness, and humility. But how do I know God hears me and answers my requests to be a better person? After all, nothing really seems to change in my day-to-day life that indicates that I’m stronger in any of those areas. I don’t wake up and say, “Thanks God! I feel more diligent today!” So how does God answer my prayers?

I remember all the days and nights I spend with my 1.5 year old son. I play with him when I come home from work although I’m tired and just want to relax in front of the television. I try to read his favorite books to him for the hundredth time with the same excitement as the first time. It’s exhausting work at times. But then it hits me. All those times when I pulled out a little more energy to be there for my family, I was demonstrating acts of patience, kindness, and charity. I asked God for strength and He answered by giving me an opportunity to exercise virtue.

I would say that one can only dream babies acted liked angels, but that assumes a parent could ever get some sleep.

Next, let’s look at a story that made the news rounds lately. There is a picture circulating around the internet of a wife carrying her double-amputee husband on her back. Jesse Cottle lost both his legs after stepping on an IED while serving in the Marines in Afghanistan. In rehab, he met his wife, Kelly. In an interview on Good Morning America, Jesse said that he wouldn’t change anything that happened to him because if he hadn’t lost his legs to that IED, he never would have met the love of his life.

God always answers our prayers but not always in ways we expect.

I’m not sure whether Jesse is an overtly praying man, but I’m sure he must have had some very low moments after his injury and asked God to somehow improve his situation. But God just didn’t miraculously grow Jesse’s legs back or change the IED blast so he didn’t lose them in the first place. I’m sure many of us in Jesse’s situation would look for those specific answers from God if we were in that situation. And we would probably be saddened when God didn’t physical heal us. But God often answers prayers in unexpected, but better ways. Sure, God could have physically healed Jesse. But then Jesse never would have met Kelly in rehab. While what happened to Jesse was tragic, God brought about a greater good by touching the hearts of two people, instead of healing the legs of one.

What RosaryMeds Do I Need?

What rosary mystery doesn’t involve God working in some unexpected way? The whole New Testament is the account of Jesus saying and doing unexpected things. Sometimes He did the unexpected to great fanfare like performing miracles. And other times Jesus’ unexpected nature upset people, especially the scribes and pharisees when He challenged their practices and authority. When you pray the rosary, meditate that God’s ways aren’t always our ways. When it comes to God, expect the unexpected. For example:

The Annunciation (First Joyful Mystery): God chose an unwed teenager to be the Mother of God. Mary may have been physically poor, but God raised her up to be rich in spirit.
The Nativity (Third Joyful Mystery): The King of Kings was born in a stable. Like His ministry, Jesus’ birth was marked not by earthly power, but by humility.
The Proclamation of the Kingdom of Heaven (Third Luminous Mystery): When Jesus proclaimed that He was the Word made flesh, people chased him out of town. How many times do we get upset when God shows Himself in unexpected ways in our lives?
The Crucifixion (Fifth Sorrowful Mystery): Jesus died and redeemed us all. People challenged Him by saying that if He was really the Son of God, He could save himself. But Jesus knew that it was far more important to save our souls than save His body.

The Annunciation, by Francesco Albani. "H... — The Annunciation, by Francesco Albani. “How can this be, for I know not man?”, Luke 1:34 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Remember, God’s ways are not our ways. But that should be a reason to rejoice, not for disappointment. God sees the big picture. So shouldn’t we rejoice that someone who sees and knows everything is looking out for us? Do you have any stories to tell of how God answered your prayers in unexpected, but ultimately better ways? Leave a comment.