Our hope in Christ is the solution.

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

We cannot pray our trials away. But by grace, we can surely pray and acknowledge the problem as a tool used by God to grant us a newer level of understanding of His glory. Such understanding is Christ himself being made clear to us by the Holy Spirit in every situations, every circumstances.

Our prayers help us re-acknowledge God’s control above our problems. God doesn’t give us problems, he lends them to us. He takes them back as soon as they accomplish what they were meant to accomplish.

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11)

What and who God has given us is Jesus and all that belongs to him: his death, his burial, his resurrection, his glory. God doesn’t take Jesus back from us. He makes His Spirit dwell within our hearts to serve us hope in him.

“Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.”” (Galatians 4:6)

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7)

Paul, this far by grace, understood well the meaning of prayer. It’s not to cast away problems but to recall to our hearts and minds to the peace of God so that we acquire a new level of understanding which will allow us to see the situation as a non-issue.

As soon as we understand our situation, the anxiety to see the problem gone disappears, and the “problem” really has become a non-issue whatsoever.

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”” (Luke 24:45-49)

Therefore, we are to…

“Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

Whatever the problem, whatever the anxiety, our hope in Christ has always been and will always have been the solution.