It was a delight worshipping in our youth-led service this past Sunday. This community is blessed to have Richard, Olivia and Steven nurturing and guiding our students. One teaching moment in the service included Lydia and Sophia Krambeck asking Pastor Mofid questions about the scripture lesson (the story of God appearing to Hagar in Genesis 16:7-13). Mofid joked that he was chosen to speak because he was already a grandpa, a title Pastor Jason has yet to acquire. And actually, Mofid was right! In planning the service, we liked the idea of students asking questions of a trusted, grandparent-ly figure in their lives.
One of the questions posed to Mofid was why the Lord asked Hagar, “Where have you come from, and where are you going?,” because of course, God already knew. Part of Mofid’s answer included the visual of teaching children to ask their parents for what they need, even though the parents already know. He referenced James 4:2: “You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.” Therefore, tell God your concerns and hopes in prayer.
This moment stuck with me for a few reasons. First, that we expect children to learn to ask for what they need, yet we adults are actually really bad at it. Throughout my son’s ABA therapy as a preschooler, teaching him to ask for what he needed was a primary goal. It is still a focus on his IEP and one of the markers that he has met is that he can “effectively self-advocate.” I don’t know about you, but I don’t know many adults who self-advocate well or regularly. When someone asks me, “What do you need?” I can rarely answer. Adults rarely consider what they cannot do alone, partly because we are taught that complete self-sufficiency is a mark of success.
The second thing that stuck with me is how often my own anxiety and struggles could have been relieved by a simple prayer: “Lord, I can’t do this on my own.” Admitting we are helpless and need to surrender to the will and sovereignty of God is a powerful idea. A single prayer may not end the suffering, but it does release us from the burden of control.
God sees you, like Hagar on the road to Shur. God calls you by name, like Mary Magdalene in the garden. God knows everything you have ever done and still calls you to drink living water, like the Samaritan woman at the well. God can handle every prayer…just ask.
Elizabeth Virkler