God knows what is best for all of us

"Father, we keep you busy."

Energetic worship leader Davy Myers said the aforementioned last Sunday at New Salem United Methodist Church in Daisy, Mo., where I attend occasionally. He was offering a prayer on behalf of this small but vital congregation after it seemed like dozens of prayer concerns were shared out loud.

They were like popcorn popping, there were so many. Most were what one theologian calls "bunion prayers," which is to say, prayers for physical conditions. I've prayed some of those myself in recent days in the run-up to my father's death on Feb. 24. One young lady was consoled by Davy when she tearfully confessed her pain at her team's recent loss. I appreciate it when teenagers can be vulnerable in front of adults with things that matter to them.

"Father, we keep you busy," is how Davy summed up.

Eleven years ago, the movie "Bruce Almighty" was released. In it, popular and healthy TV reporter Bruce Nolan, with a loving and beautiful girlfriend, began to rage at God for the state of his life. Relegated to covering fluffy feature stories like bake-offs, referred to as "Wacky Bruce" by other staff, he lets loose his anger in a spectacular fashion. And God responds. God, in the person of actor Morgan Freeman, decides to give the reporter some of His powers. Maybe Bruce will do better, God tells him.

Things go great for awhile. Bruce is able to part traffic jams and speed to work. He drives a hot new car. He exacts revenge on other employees. He parts his coffee in half, a la Moses and the Red Sea, while sitting at a table in a deli. "Having fun?" God Almighty asks.

Soon, Bruce begins to understand the weight of being God. Prayer concerns flood his consciousness to the point where he cannot think. He directs them all into a personal computer and instead of examining each petition individually and responding lovingly, he simply types "yes" to every prayer request. People get wealthy overnight by hitting the lottery but catastrophe quickly ensues.

Bruce realizes that people ask for all sorts of things in prayer. Some things desired are unhealthy and unhelpful, other things hurt others, et al. The city of Buffalo, where Bruce lives, quickly begins falling apart.

Bruce tires of being God and plants himself in front of a tractor-trailer, begging God to take back His powers. The conversation that ensues between Bruce and the Father God is worth recounting:

Bruce: "There were so many [prayers]. I just gave them all what they want."

God: "Yes. But since when does anyone have a clue about what they want?"

That conversation was the most theologically astute moment of the film. We think our petitions to God are so reasonable, so rational, so obviously worthy that it is continually perplexing why they are not answered.

When my father was gravely ill with oral cancer this winter, terminal, one of his friends, a man about my age, said to me privately:

Man: "I keep praying that God will heal him."

Me: "Everybody dies. You know that, right?"

Charles Stanley, the octogenarian Baptist preacher and televangelist, encourages Christians to be bold in prayer. Ask, and it shall be given to you. He quotes Jesus on this point -- and the Lord actually did say those words. But you know what?

My prayer boldness is sublimated to an infinitely wise God who simply knows what is best for all of us. So, with apologies to Dr. Stanley, yes -- pray boldly. Yes, keep the Father busy. By all means. But in your prayer include these words: "But in all things, Father, we trust you. And our trust in you is total. Your will be done."

Pray. Keep the Father busy. And be ready for whatever answer He chooses to give -- Yes. No. Wait.

Dr. Jeff Long, of Jackson, is executive director of the Chateau Girardeau Foundation and teaches religious studies at Southeast Missouri State University.