Balancing Surrender and Confidence: Navigating the Tension in Prayer

A Problem in Prayer: Reconciling God's Will and Our Requests

Have you ever struggled with how to pray? Maybe you've found yourself caught between two seemingly contradictory ways of approaching God in prayer. On one hand, we are taught to pray with a humble and submissive heart, seeking God's will above our own. On the other hand, we are encouraged to boldly bring our requests to God, confident that He hears and answers.

The "Thy Will Be Done" Prayer

One way of praying, which theologian C.S. Lewis calls "the A Pattern," is the prayer of surrender. It is the prayer that acknowledges God's sovereignty and wisdom. It is the prayer that says, "Thy will be done." In this prayer, we approach God as humble creatures, recognizing our limited understanding and trusting that He knows what is best for us.

This pattern of prayer is rooted in the words of Jesus Himself when He taught His disciples to pray, saying, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Jesus exemplified this prayer of surrender in the Garden of Gethsemane when He prayed, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42).

The Bold and Confident Prayer

On the other hand, there is another pattern of prayer that encourages us to boldly approach God with our requests. This pattern recognizes that we have a loving Father who desires to hear from us and who invites us to bring our needs and desires to Him.

Jesus Himself assures us, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened" (Matthew 7:7-8). This is a powerful invitation to come to God with confidence, knowing that He is eager to answer our prayers.

The Problem: Reconciling the Two Patterns

So here we are, caught between two seemingly contradictory ways of approaching God in prayer. On one hand, we are called to surrender our will to His, trusting in His wisdom and sovereignty. On the other hand, we are encouraged to boldly bring our requests to Him, confident that He will hear and answer.

It is this tension that C.S. Lewis wrestled with, and it is a problem that many of us continue to grapple with today. How do we reconcile these two patterns of prayer? How do we navigate the delicate balance between surrender and confidence?

A Journey of Faith and Trust

Perhaps the answer lies in recognizing that these two patterns of prayer are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary. They represent different aspects of our relationship with God and can be understood as different postures of our heart.

When we pray, "Thy will be done," we acknowledge our dependence on God and our recognition that His ways are higher than ours. We submit ourselves to His plans and purposes, trusting that He knows what is best for us. This posture of surrender cultivates humility, trust, and a deeper faith in God.

On the other hand, when we boldly bring our requests to God, we demonstrate our faith and confidence in His goodness and faithfulness. We recognize that He is a loving Father who desires to provide for our needs. This posture of confidence fosters a deeper intimacy with God and strengthens our relationship with Him.

Examples from Scripture

Throughout the Bible, we find examples of both patterns of prayer and how they can coexist in the lives of God's people. In the Psalms, we see David crying out to God in both surrender and confidence. In Psalm 143:10, David prays, "Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground." Here, David expresses his desire to align his will with God's and seeks guidance and direction.

However, in Psalm 34:4, David also declares, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears." This shows David's boldness in seeking God's intervention and his confidence that God hears and responds to his prayers.

Similarly, in the New Testament, the apostle Paul exemplifies both patterns of prayer. In 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, Paul describes how he pleaded with God to remove a thorn in his flesh. Yet, despite his fervent requests, God responded by saying, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Paul's surrender to God's will and his trust in God's grace are evident in his response, "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

The Mystery of Prayer

Ultimately, the tension between surrender and confidence in prayer is a mystery that we may never fully understand. It is a paradox that requires us to hold both postures in tension and to trust in God's wisdom and goodness.

As C.S. Lewis concluded his lecture on petitionary prayer, he admitted that he did not have a definitive answer to this problem. It is a question that has been pondered by theologians, scholars, and believers throughout history.

However, what we can be certain of is that prayer is a vital and transformative aspect of our relationship with God. It is a means by which we commune with Him, express our dependence on Him, and experience His faithfulness and provision.

Conclusion

In our journey of faith, let us embrace both the prayer of surrender and the prayer of boldness. Let us approach God with humble hearts, acknowledging His sovereignty and wisdom. Let us also come to Him with confidence, knowing that He desires to hear and answer our prayers.

May we find comfort in the words of the apostle John: "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him" (1 John 5:14-15).

As we continue to navigate the tension between surrender and confidence in prayer, may we find solace in the truth that God is faithful, and His ways are higher than ours. Let us trust in His wisdom and goodness, knowing that He works all things together for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).