Rhetoric meets reality.

I had a hard day. It hurt.

But it fits in so beautifully with the dying thoughts that unfolded in my mind while I listened to Hannah bubble-bathing one wall away. If health isn't the absence of pain, but rather having the spiritual and emotional capacity to deal with pain, then our prayers should follow suit.

Should we not pray for the strength to deal with life? Instead of praying that life will be delivered to us easily?

We pray for things to happen to us, or for things to not happen to us. We pray for good weather, good grades, a good time and a happy home. We are passive prayer-mongers, following rule and rote. But where is God's heart?

What is God really interested in? I have found the Christian story to be one centered around internal change, the renewal of mind and redemption of soul. I would feign want to work against the will of God, so why do I pray otherwise? Why do I pray for ease when it is comfort that leads to no good? The easy life is alien to the Christian as the Christian is alien to the world. We will receive blessings no doubt, and comfort of course, but to seek such as an ends in themselves, with no eschatology in sight is to slight the purpose and perfect will of God.

The journey to the cross wasn't an easy one. And if we are called to be crucified alongside Christ, I am starting to think that our daily crucifixion shouldn't be centered around prayers for happy events and easy days, but rather, for the uncompromisable change in the self.

God isn't interested in what happens to you, in so much as he is interested in you happening.