Are You There, God?: Fifth Sunday of Easter

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus comforts his disciples and explains that he is the way, the truth, and the life. Two verses, in particular, tend to receive the most attention. John 14:6, which I just summarized, and John 14:14, “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

“If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

That statement has both a lot of hope and a lot of challenges. “If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.”

I recently saw the movie, “Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.” It’s based on a book written by Judy Blume in 1970. I had never read the book, which has apparently been one of the most banned books from 1970 through 2010 and is on the upswing again as a banned book. I have to tell you – I experienced some rather unpleasant flashbacks to grade school – seeing the school building, which was almost exactly like my elementary school, a few mean girls, the clothes, the music, the parties in a cringe-worthy decorated 70’s basement with their boy/girl drama. I can see why it was such a coming-of-age book in 1970. I was only a year younger than the protagonist, Margaret.

Margaret has a lot going on in life. And she keeps asking, “Are you there, God? It’s me, Margaret.” Margaret most often doesn’t get the answer she’s looking for. But Margaret is 11 years old.

The promise that if in my name you ask for anything I will do it, is powerful and comforting, and yet, we must wrestle, like Margaret, with the reality that sometimes we don’t get what we ask for. And what was striking about Margaret was her unwillingness to give up on understanding life, even when that meant questioning God’s existence. So, I think the Margarets in our world teach us much about challenging the status quo and resilience.

What happens when we don’t get what we ask for? How do we react? How do we understand this promise?

The first thing to understand is what Jesus is saying and what he’s not. Jesus is not saying that we can ask for anything we want, and he will magically make it happen. We’re not presenting Jesus with a wish list of what we want in life.

Instead, this verse calls on us to pray to Jesus powerfully and profoundly. The Greek word used for “ask” αἰτέω (aiteó – ph. i-ta-o) in the context of this passage is generally understood as referring to requesting prayer. Thus, Jesus encourages his followers to pray to God in Jesus’ name, praying with faith in Jesus and his teachings and acknowledging his authority.

God’s love for us is unconditional and limitless. Just as a loving parent wants the best for their child, so does God desire the best for each of us. Therefore, when asking and praying in Jesus’ name, we must strive to align ourselves with God’s will for our lives, recognizing that the purpose of praying in Jesus’ name is not merely to satisfy our desires but to build up God’s kingdom.

Sometimes, our prayers seem to go unanswered, and our hearts grow heavy with disappointment. In these moments, it is essential to remember that God’s ways are not our ways. As Isaiah reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the Lord.”[1]

When we don’t receive what we’ve asked for, it doesn’t mean that God is not listening or does not care. Instead, it may mean that God has a different plan in store for us that we cannot yet see. It may be that we are being prepared for a greater purpose, one that requires us to grow in faith, resilience, and love.

So, when we face disappointment, we can’t lose hope. Instead, we need to continue to pray to God and to listen for the still, small voice within our hearts. We need to open ourselves to the possibility that our path is leading us closer to God and the person we were created to be.

In these moments, let us remember that Jesus himself experienced unanswered prayer. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed that suffering might pass from him. And yet, he ultimately acknowledged, “Not my will, but yours be done.”

In the Episcopal Church, we embrace the beauty of the liturgy and the sacraments as a means of encountering God’s grace. When we gather around the table for Holy Communion, we are reminded that we are not alone in our struggles. We are part of a community of faith that stretches back through the ages, connecting us to the saints who have gone before us and to our brothers and sisters across the globe. When we don’t get what we ask for, let us lean on one another, sharing our burdens and offering support. As the Body of Christ, we are called to be present for one another in times of joy and sorrow.

And so, let us hold fast to the promise of Jesus in today’s gospel. Trust that when we ask in Jesus’ name, our prayers are heard, and our hearts are known. In times of disappointment, may we turn to God, the wisdom of Scripture, and the loving embrace of our community, trusting that we are never alone on this journey of faith and that God’s love and grace will guide us through every season of our lives.

In closing, I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul from Romans: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”[2]

As we walk the path of faith, remember that God is always at work, even when we don’t get what we ask for. May we be shaped by the power of God’s love. May we remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that our loving God is with us in every circumstance, guiding us and providing for us according to the riches of divine wisdom and grace. Amen.

[1] Isaiah 55:8, New Revised Standard Version (“NRSV”)

[2] Romans 8:28, NRSV