«I have uttered what I did not understand…. I will question you, and you shall answer Me’ » (Job 42:3, 4).
FRIEND OF MINE was studying at university when, one day, she was deeply impressed by a young man who had just arrived. She fell in love so much that she pursued him to win his heart. She could not get her head round the idea that he might not be for her. Finally, her ingenuity and her efforts allowed her to become his girlfriend. Thus went by five years of happy courtship for her, as she had attained her goal. That is, until the fateful day of graduation came. Obviously, they would go their separate ways if the relation. ship did not end in marriage, so she told him about her desire to be married in December. «Five years is more than enough,» was the argument she used to try to convince him. Neither that nor any other argument would have worked: he was not interested in joining his life to hers. He said «No» and continued on his course. In tears, she told me how much effort it had taken to maintain that relationship, only to see it end up like this. I asked her: «But have you prayed? Have you heard God’s voice? Do you think it is worth it to be with a man who does not love you?”
It is possible that my friend had prayed during those years, but her prayers were not a dialogue with God in which she asked questions and then patiently waited for the answers from the Lord. Her prayers were monologues which, before beginning, already had an ending written in her mind. She failed to pause; she failed to keep silent and listen; she failed to ask questions.
When we pray, we must approach God with humility so that He will listen to us (see Jeremiah 29:12, 13); we must ask for the direction of the Holy Spirit (see Romans 8:14); we must remember that prayer must be linked to the reading of the Bible, which clarifies many of the doubts we take to the Father (see 2 Timothy 3:16,17); we must live a life that is pleasing to God (see 1 John 3:22); we need to forgive those who have offended us (see Matthew 6:14, 15); and we need to seek to do the divine will, not our own (see Luke 22:42).
Prayer is not a monologue with an end already written in your mind, but a dialogue between you and God. Take your matters to God and wait for His answer. It may come through the Bible, the Spirit, nature, or other people