Late one evening our daughter, a young professional, telephoned to talk about something that was bothering her. She confessed she was puzzled because people she believed to sincere Christians expressed surprise at answered prayer. Didn't people who believe in an all-powerful and loving God expect to see evidence of His government of their lives?
We talked about how easily we can become conditioned by commonly held beliefs so that we see ourselves and others not as God's spiritual likeness but as mortals, separated from God by sin and a material universe. This point of view inhibits our expectation of good from God. It makes us feel as if we were at perpetual risk, having little hope of God's care. As if sin, disease, evil, death, could intrude at any time upon divine government.
But as loved children of unfailing Father-Mother of the universe, shouldn't we expect consistent care? Would a decent human parent give less than good things to meet his children's needs? How much more, then, our heavenly Father, who is Love?
