“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” // John 11:21

Can we simply take a moment and acknowledge that this world is messy? War and violence. Abuse and scandal. Irreverence and irreligiousness. Sin and destruction. It’s nothing new. In today’s reading from Jeremiah 26:1-9, God, through the prophet, tells the people to repent from their evil ways; and it’s not just any people, but the people who have come to the house of the Lord to worship.

We are messy.

And that is why the honest prayer of Saint Martha is so important. In her deep sorrow and pain, Martha turned to Jesus and spoke her sincere feelings. She didn’t try to hide from Him or ignore them. Rather, with piety, she surrendered her thoughts and feelings to Jesus, and in the process, teaches us how to do the same.

Lord, there is war and violence. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.

Lord, there is abuse and scandal. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.

Lord, there is irreverence and irreligiousness. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.

Lord, there is sin and destruction. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.

In the midst of all that is around us, we pray to Jesus with the boldness, honesty, and trust of Martha. What is it you want to take to Him today?

[bctt tweet="Whatever you ask of God, God will give you. // @chikasworld" username="blessedisshe__"]

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