Dear God, I'm OK!

Dear God…please don’t let me be late for this exam, don’t let me get fat, please help me get this job, find a home etc.

I hear this too often and it upsets me.  My partner’s parents are devout Christians, they are lovely people but it annoys me when they pray for the road to be clear, or when they say, “I know you’ll find somewhere to live because I’ve prayed for you.”

Now, don’t get me wrong – I am grateful.  But why should it be up to God to find me a home?*  I think sometimes people put too much responsibility onto God so that they don’t have it on themselves. 

I have prayed…I used to ask not to be late for school, or to do well in my exams but then I realised that I was being totally and utterly selfish and lazy.  If I don’t want to be late then I should get up early, if I want to do well then I should put the effort in.  why should God give me a free ride because I asked for it?  I cannot see how this is right when there are people in this world who need God’s help far more than myself and my petty concerns.  Lately, when I’ve prayed (and I can’t say it happens often), I give thanks for all the wonderful things in my life – of which there are many – and when I ask for help, it is for people who really need it.  I have asked for help for the woman who used to teach me and who has been battling cancer for a number of years, for my mum, who was in an abusive relationship which made her feel suicidal, for my Grannie who lost her husband over 4 years ago and has lost some light from her life.  

Have we all become too selfish?  I’m not blameless, I wollow in self pity when I have a ‘bad’ day, I moan that I don’t have enough money, or don’t like my job but every now and again I am reminded of how good my life is and about what really matters.  

We all need to be a bit more responsible for our lives.  Let God help the people who need it the most.  The rest of us will be ok, we will find our own way and when we are in desperate times I am sure that God will be there to help us through…so long as he’s not clearing the traffic for someone late for that important meeting…

*For the record, I wasn’t homeless – my partner and I just moved to a new country and needed to find somewhere to rent.