THE NON-ANXIOUS PRESENCE 2*

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy (Psalms 126:5).

Problems are not solved until we attack them as intelligent beings. We suffer in our attempt to escape this obvious fact. Wailing about diphtheria for centuries got us nowhere. Robert Koch began to grow bacteria on his wife's kitchen stove. The end was diphtheria antitoxin, and diphtheria has been practically wiped off the face of the earth. Perhaps this was the answer to centuries of prayer. My father, a very devout man, believed a striving to the limit in a worthy cause constituted the most eloquent form of prayer (Arthur E. Hertzler, MD).

I know a psychologist who understands non-anxious presence. His practice is to not speak until his client speaks to him. A client came for an appointment and didn't say anything. The client walked to the corner of the office, lay down on the carpeted floor in a fetal position and stayed that way for the fifty-minute session. No words were ever spoken, but just having someone understand and be accepting was powerful therapy. God is that way--he understands! The Messiah was described as the Wonderful Counselor. The Holy Spirit is another counselor, the Comforter, the One who walks along side. The Bible is clear, God is love and he loves each one.

We live in a world that is, in the words of Paul the apostle, "in bondage to decay." In this fallen world there is sickness, hate, death, greed, lust, unfaithfulness and weeds, to name a few. God has determined that it be so, but he has commanded us to deal with this fallen world in practical ways. That is why we have theology, civil law, science, medicine, engineering, biotechnology, etc..

Suppose God always dealt with our prayers by miracle or direct intervention of some sort. We would have never learned, progressed or achieved, except in learned helplessness. Think of the blessings we enjoy as a result of the pain and the sacrifices of those who have gone on before us! God's non-anxious presence has provided for the achievement of the comforts and blessings we enjoy today! Soren Kierkegaard is said to have said, Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. God changes us in his non-anxious presence.

Have you ever considered that those who labor in their chosen field of work that benefits humanity are answers to prayer?

Grace&Peace,
Tom

*Revised from an earlier post.