Prayer

Before I got on with my short "prayer" topic, I just want to apologize for being VERY absent the last month or so. Many of you know that my mom has been very sick. She has had breast cancer for the past 5 1/2 years, and recently it has gotten much worse. She went into hospice care in January, and went home to be with our Lord on the 27th of January. So, our family has been very busy taking care of her, then taking care of arraingements, then taking care of my dad. It is quite the adjustment, but we are managing. I have prayed since the beginning of my mom's illness to "take this cup away from her". I KNEW that Got could perform miracles, and I just KNEW that he would bless us with one in healing my mom. I held out hope for a miracle until her dying breath. My prayer was not answered. I realize that prayers are not always answered, or at least not answered in the way that we would like them to be. Sometimes, looking back on some things, I am thankful to God for not answering certain prayers...but this prayer....this prayer I NEEDED him to answer. Alas, it isn't my will, but His will. His will did not include my mother living past the age of 62 years. I read the following from Focus on the Family today. I wondered...why He didn't answer my prayer. I prayed boldy, often and in faith....

Are you waiting for an answer?
It's easy to think that God's not listening--especially when you've been praying that "one special request" for longer than you can remember.
Don't be discouraged! Here's what He says about prayer...
1. Pray boldy. God wants us to approach Him with confidence! (Hebrews 4:16)
2. Pray often. God desires a relationship with us. (1 Thessalonians. 5:17)
3. Pray in faith. He is able and willing. (Mark 11:24-26)

...so why didn't He answer my prayer? This is the response I have come up with after researching a bit.

Mom had taught all of us that her eternal relationship with God was above and beyond anything that this life could offer. We had all prayed for Mom to live, and God answered with a wondrous “YES!” (John 11:25). Mom is living...just not in the way we wanted her to. Sometimes, God just answers, “No” to our prayers. Any delay or unexpected outcome really shouldn't discourage us. We have to ask ourselves...what is God's purpuse through our prayers...what does He want to complete in us through prayer? God wants us to bring our every need to Him as He answers (yes or no) according to His will. God will never say yes that are contrary to His will. I'll be the first to agree that receiving a “Yes” makes us happy. But God never promised us happiness. Happiness is based solely on circumstances. God wants us to have everlasting joy -- even when He responds, “No, it will be done in My time, not yours.” Don't forget, in Luke 22:41-44, Jesus really struggled with the events leading up to His death. In fervent prayer, His greatest desire was to allow God’s will, not His suffering and pain (Hebrews 12:2). When we pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), God will always respond, and every answer will bring joy, just not always the joy we had in mind. I have to remember though, that mom is in an incredible place. Our little minds can't even wrap around what heaven is like. She has won. She is with our Father, and she will be there with open arms when it is our time.

Below is mom's obituary:

Name: Mrs. Suzanne Stutzman, 62

Died: January 27, 2008, in her home, Omaha, Nebraska

In Memory ofSuzanne Stutzman

Suzanne was born on September 29, 1946 in Milford, Nebraska to Roman Sr. and Edith Jantzi. Suzanne was the fourth of four children, their only girl.

Suzanne attended Milford grade school and high school. She was a cheerleader, majorette, homecoming attendant, class treasurer, class vice president, and a member of the drill team, pep club, Future Homemakers of America, mixed chorus, madrigal, triple trio, student council, drama club, etc. She was crowned "Centennial Queen" of Milford in the summer of 1964.

Suzanne met the love of her life, Les Stutzman, while in high school and married him on October 10, 1964. The first few years of marriage, Les and Suzanne lived in Milford before moving to Portland, Oregon where they lived for 2 years. They moved back to Omaha where their first daughter, Rhonda, was born. Shortly after, they moved to Albany, Oregon where their second daughter, Tonya, was born.

Suzanne spent many years of her life as a stay at home mom, a bank teller, personal banker, and investments assistant. Suzanne and Les moved from Albany, Oregon to Phoenix, Arizona in 1986, then to Omaha, Nebraska in 1995. Suzanne was able to go "truckin" with Les for just over a year after moving to Omaha which she enjoyed a lot. In 1999 her first grandchild was born with six others to follow. Her grandchildren, Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major were the joy of her life and the focus of her attention. Her passions included God, family, shopping, traveling and camping "luxury" style.

Suzanne was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. She spent the remainder of her 5 ½ years creating wonderful memories for her, her daughters and her grandchildren! Suzanne fought a courageous battle before passing away in her home on January 27, 2009 with her husband and two daughters by her side. She was 62 years, 3 months and 29 days old.

Suzanne is survived by her husband, Les Stutzman, Omaha; her daughters and son-in-laws, Rhonda and Mike Flanigan, Omaha; Tonya and Jeff Filleman, Omaha; her grandchildren Cam, Shawn, Jake, Kayla, Brooke, MaKenna and Major, Omaha; brothers and sister-in-laws Ron and Linda Jantzi, Salem, Oregon; Dick and Karen Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska; and sister-in law Ruth Jantzi, Fairmont, Nebraska.

Suzanne is preceded in death by her parents Roman Jantzi Sr. and Edith Jantzi; brother Roman Jantzi, Jr.; and sister-in-law Julie Jantzi.

The funeral service will be held at Brookside Church at 11607 M Circle in Omaha on Monday, February 2 at 10:30 am with Pastor Tim Wiebe officiating. Interment in Blue Mound Cemetery, Milford at 3:00 pm. Memorials may be directed to Methodist Hospital Foundation/Estabrook Cancer Center at 8303 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE 68114, in memory of Suzanne Stutzman.