Do you know people in your life who are forever qualifying requests with, “As long as it’s no trouble,” or “Don’t go to any special effort on my account”? Perhaps these “courtesies” work in our more formal social settings, but the person who delivers them even in a relaxed atmosphere among close friends or family can make us uncomfortable.
When someone goes out of her way to show us some kindness, why is it hard to simply accept it? Is there a part of each of us that recoils at the idea of owing someone something? Do we immediately begin fretting about how we can return the favor, and feeling inferior if we’re unable to respond in kind?
In this same vein, people accumulate rationales to refrain from praying to God, especially for themselves. “God has much bigger problems to solve that the troubles brewing in my life” is a common one. But what if the real reason behind forgoing prayer stems more from our wish not to owe God anything?
Let’s take a reality check here. No matter what we may think we’ve accomplished “on our own,” the Lord who gave us our very lives, has blessed each of us in more ways that we even realize. More importantly, these blessings were gifts. God has gone to great lengths to keep accounting out of our relationship. Instead, the Lord continues to encourage us to “Ask and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7).
Moreover, if God is truly God, how much can any of our requests really trouble the Lord? God already knows what we need (Matthew 6:32) and also knows the exactly perfect mix of what we need handed to us, and what we need to work through to grow. And the Lord is cheering for us all of the time.
As we approach Thanksgiving, let’s enjoy the grace of giving and taking that keeps us all connected to each other, and be grateful that despite everything we have already received, God stands ready to bless us even more.
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