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Following is an excerpt of "The "WHY" Prayer" by T. Carlton Richardson added on 04/19/2000.
The "Why" Prayer
Messages of Hope on Prayer
Dr. T. C. Richardson
Psalm 22:1-5; Isaiah 43:2-3

Summary: As Christians, our questioning in prayer usually arise out of three circumstances: (1) our ignorance of God; (2) our fear of the unknown, and/or (3) our doubt about God's promises. This Message of Hope explores each within the context of our prayer life and assures us that it is alright to ask why in prayer so long as it is a response to adversity designed to rebuild or sustain our hope in preparation for affirmative actions in thought, word, and deed.

MESSAGE: ["How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without someone preaching to them? ... So faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ." Amen. (Rom. 10:14, 17)]

I. How often do we pray the "Why Prayer"? It is normal for us to question or wonder what God is up to because we are human and as such are incessantly curious. At one time or another, one or more, of the following "why prayers" have probably crossed our lips:

* Why the parent or other relative we thought was so perfect walked out of our life or disappointed us in someway, i.e. that failed family relationship?
* Why the friend or lover that we trusted betrayed our confidence or failed to support us during a time of need, i.e. that failed partnership or association?
* Why our work seems so difficult and unfulfilling, i.e. that failed work relationship or business?
* Why do good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to God people, i.e. that 'Job' experience or relationship with God?

As Christians, our questioning in prayer usually arise out of three circumstances: (1) our ignorance of God; (2) our fear of the unknown, and/or (3) our doubt about God's promises. This Message of Hope explores each within the context of our prayer life and assures us that it is alright to ask why in prayer so long as it is a response to adversity designed to rebuild or sustain our hope in preparation for affirmative actions in thought, word, and deed.

II. WORD: Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: "Why are you using your ignorance to deny my providence? Now get ready to fight, for I am going to demand some answers from you, and you must reply." (Job. 38:1-3, TLB)

Our "why prayers" demonstrate our ignorance of God. Job did not understand the workings of the physical creation (something that even modern man has yet to fathom) and in this passage God responds by asking Job how could he possibly understand God's mind and character? [See generally Job 38-41 for the exchange between God and Job, Job's questionings and God's responses.] In Isaiah we read these words:

Seek the Lord while He may be found; Call upon Him while He is near. ... "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are h ...

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