Our Prayers and the All-Wise God

God is infinitely wise, “his understanding is beyond measure” (Ps. 147:5). When we pray in light of this fact it is then that we are able to pray like this:

If it be consistent with thy eternal counsels,

            the purpose of thy grace,

            and the great ends of thy glory,

            then bestow upon me the blessings of thy comforts;

If not, let me resign myself to thy wiser determinations. (Valley of Vision, 10-11)

In other words, we are certainly free to ask God for comforts and blessings on our lives (“bestow upon me the blessings of thy comforts”). But if he does not give them, then we know that he is doing something better. His “wiser determinations” have led him either to say “no” or “not right now” or something else.

Let’s ask God for blessings! He is a good Father (Luke 11:13)! But let’s do so in light of his wisdom. His wiser determinations may lead somewhere else.