Shortsighted Prayers

It was Jesus who gave His disciples James and John the nickname “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3:17 NLT). Now, you don’t get a nickname like that without a reason.

On one occasion during Jesus’ ministry, the people in a Samaritan village weren’t responsive to His message. So, James and John said, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” (Luke 9:54 NLT).

The Bible also gives us a little hint, perhaps, as to why these two became the Sons of Thunder. One day their mother, Salome, approached Jesus with her sons—and a request: “In your Kingdom, please let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left” (Matthew 20:21 NLT).

But Jesus told them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of suffering I am about to drink?” (verse 22 NLT).

What was this cup? It was the cup of God’s wrath as Jesus bore the sins of the world on the cross. Remember, in the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Matthew 26:39 NLT).

God said no to their mother’s request, and no doubt they were thankful for that later. After all, Salome was there at the crucifixion of Jesus. As she stood at the foot of the cross, she would have seen the two criminals who hung on crosses to the right and left of Jesus.

If God has said no to your prayer recently, don’t think that it’s necessarily a bad thing. It could be a very good thing, because God loves you and sees the big picture. There is a place for faith and prayer. But God may overrule our requests, especially when we ask for something that will harm us.

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